Man in constant pain due to rare condition that should have killed him praised for being 'superhuman'
If your in need of a dose of inspiration and a reminder that there is no such word as can't, Dean Clifford is your man.
Despite living his entire life in constant pain, being shunned by people due to his appearance and dealing with a rare condition that doctors said would kill him as a child, he's one of the most upbeat blokes you will ever come across.
A lot of this has to do with the fact that he's drastically exceeded the estimations of medics who'd predicted he wouldn't make it past five-years-old - as he is still going strong at the age of 43.
As well as making it a long way past his initial life expectancy, Dean has continued to defy the odds in every aspect of his life and hasn't let the fact he has epidermolysis bullosa (EB) get in his way.
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He was born with the extremely rare condition that is also known as 'cotton wool babies', which causes pain that sufferers liken to third degree burns - but constantly.
According to the NHS, this group of inherited skin disorders causes 'the skin to become very fragile', meaning that any 'trauma or friction can cause painful blisters' as well as thickened skin and nails.
There is currently no cure for EB, so sufferers like Dean have to make do with treatments which aim to relieve their symptoms and prevent infections.
Those with the most severe cases, like Dean, usually have a life expectancy of 30 years.
Talking to ABC Science, the Aussie said: "I break the rules. There's never going to be anybody like me."
The bloke, from the Queensland town of Kingaroy, was told he would never walk again at ten-years-old, but went on to ditch his wheelchair and get back on his feet - even carrying the Olympic torch in 2000.
The sports fanatic was still wheelchair bound when he was asked about the honour and decided to set himself a challenge which his physio said was 'impossible' - learn to walk again in less than six months - and he did it.
He says the entire town turned up to cheer him on, which made it one of the 'most magical days' of his life.
"It's the first and only time I can ever recall walking completely pain-free," he added.
The motivational speaker said that his skin may be 'scary looking' and often 'bleeds a lot', but explained that it is still the same as everyone else's.
"It just doesn't have the binding anchors that hold all the layers together," Dean continued. "So any sort of movement will create a friction-type burn, kind of like sandpaper rubbing against each other.
"I’m able to sort of push the pain to the background until some times that you take a step just the wrong way and you’re sort of frozen in excruciating pain for a second or two."
He told how his skin heals and breaks open with the slightest movement, creating wounds that medical experts say are some of the 'most aggressive' they've ever seen.
Dean said: "The doctors indicated that it would be better if I passed away sooner rather than later, because the older I survived, the more painful and more debilitating life was going to get.
"For a 12 month appointment, it was always marked with an asterisk to call through and check I was still alive.
"I was wheelchair bound through school. I needed tube feeding. It wasn't until I was in my teenage years that it became pretty obvious that, to me, I was going to survive, but I had no real idea what my future would hold."
Little did he know, it would be pretty damn exciting and awe-inspiring.
For the last two decades, Dean has delivered powerful talks to millions of people about what it's like to live with EB and advocating for disabled people - while also hitting the gym.
After trying out a bench press at a friend's house one day, he realised that he was strong in more ways than one.
"That first day in the gym, unassisted, I lifted my body weight on the bench press and we just sat back in amazement," Dean said.
"I'm lucky to be able to mentally control the pain and then sort of put mental blockers across it.
"Now, I’m classed as one of the strongest power lifters people have seen. My record is lifting 150 kilos, well over double my body weight. You show them the video and their jaws drop. They can't believe it."
Speaking of how he deals with funny looks and prolonged stares from strangers, Dean says he 'couldn't care less'.
He continued: "It's just normal to me that people might have a second look or say something under their breath.
"I break the mould and there's never going to be anybody like me."
Dean was dubbed 'superhuman' by people who watched his incredible story, as viewers left a host of tear-jerking replies in the comment section.
One said: "You are my hero man. I can't imagine having to push through that pain. You are a beautiful human."
Another moved viewer wrote: "Bro said, 'Pain, I don't have time for that'. The willpower on this man is absolutely incredible."
A third commented: "Not just lifting heavy weights but also lifting people up, he truly is the world's strongest man."
A fourth added: "This guy isn't just doing well for his condition; he's downright superhuman.
"Most people could only wish to have even a fraction of the strength of body and will that he does. His life is an example everyone should follow."
While a fifth chimed in: "Dudes a legend. To be so strong mentally and physically through all the pain is incredible. A real superhero."
Topics: Health, Australia, World News, News
Olivia Burke