A mother whose toddler is gaining weight at alarming speed has been given hope by a Brazilian girl with the same rare condition.

Only two other people in the world have been diagnosed with the same syndrome as two-year-old Archie Thompson, from Icklesham, near Rye.

Archie weighs six stone, as big as an average 11-year-old. He is almost 4ft tall and has a 36in waist, larger than an average man.

Every three months he puts on another stone, even if he eats only the bare minimum.

His condition, called macrosomia obesity macrophaly ocular abnormality syndrome (Momo), places enormous strain on his heart and lungs.

With Archie requiring 24-hour care, it also places a huge emotional burden on his parents Sarah and Nigel.

Sarah travelled more than 5,000 miles to Brazil to meet another Momo sufferer who is defying the odds.

Doctors had predicted Danielle, from Sao Paulo, would not survive beyond her teens when she was diagnosed as a baby but shes now 17 and leading a happy and normal life.

By the time she reached her teens, Danielles weight gain started to level off. Although she is still heavy, her rapid growth has eased and she is looking to the future with optimism.

No one can say what triggers Momo, only that it is a rare genetic syndrome. There are no specific treatments for it.

Archies size makes it difficult to move him around and getting out of the house is almost impossible.

Although registered as disabled, his age meant the Thompsons were not eligible to apply for an adapted car which would solve his mobility problems.

However, with £4,500 help from The Argus Appeal, they bought a wheelchair-adapted Citroen Dispatch.

A TV documentary following his familys struggle to understand why Archie puts on as much as 1lb a week is screened on Five at 9pm tonight.

First published Monday, October 3, 2004