For those of you asking about Rubber Boy...

Here is some science behind the disease, Osteogenesis imperfecta. OI manifests in a number of symptoms including weak bones, multiple fractures, bowed limbs, short stature, deafness, and short lifespan. An article last week in Molecular Therapy describes the genetic basis of OI - dominant mutations in the type I collagen genes - and a new attempt at treatment through gene therapy.

Or for a more dramatic portrayal of the disease, see Bruce Willis in 'Unbreakable'.