While he is only 67.5 centimeters tall, Lin Yu-chih, who suffers from congenital osteogenesis imperfecta, maintains an optimistic outlook on life. In addition, is he content to be recognized as the shortest man in Taiwan. In fact, he has staged a one-man play to tell of his story in growing up, called the "The Space of 67.5 Centimeters."

Persons with congenital osteogenesis imperfecta suffer from bones that fracture easily. People with the condition are sometimes referred to as "glass babies." Lin, who is 35 years old, is the founder of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Association. Since many persons suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta have a hard time finding work, Lin hopes to create momentum in order to establish a refuge factory for persons with osteogenesis imperfecta. This place would provide sufferers of the disease with vocational training or provide services to introduce work opportunities. Lin said that in order to raise NT$1 million, he had no other choice but to become an actor and put on make-up in preparation to take the stage.

Lin said that up until the age of 27, he had absolutely no idea that he had congenital osteogenesis imperfecta. Instead, he thought that he had polio. Even though he never graduated from elementary school, he still had dreams for the future and understood the meaning of being grateful. He told his mother, "That you gave birth to me is not your fault. Having me has provided the world another person who can work to accomplish things."

Cheng Chien-chih and Tsai Shu-hui, both of whom are also "glass babies," both said that in the process of growing up, it was inevitable that they would be ridiculed by their classmates and that people on the street would look at them differently. Nonetheless, each one of them ultimately got married and had children. Cheng Chien-chih stressed that even though they constantly faced the medical nightmare of breaking a bone as they grew up, they believed that heaven would find an appropriate road for each one of them. Three years ago, Cheng Chien-chih graduated from university with a degree in veterinary medicine. He presently serves as a research assistant at the Council of Agricultures Animal Health Research Institute.

Lin Hsuan-pei, the director of pediatric genetics at Mackay Memorial Hospital, said that in Taiwan there is on average one person among every 20,000 who has congenital osteogenesis imperfecta. He said that from a clinical standpoint, doctors mainly provide supportive therapy, meaning that efforts are made to prevent bones from fracturing any further. He added that in some cases orthopedic surgery is carried out to correct the skeletal frame of these patients. Lin added that various devices are provided to patients to help them lead as normal of a life as possible.

Lin said people who have this genetic bone disorder either have less collagen than normal or the quality is poorer than normal. As collagen is an important protein in bone structure, this impairment causes those with the condition to have weak or fragile bones. However, the condition causes more flexibility in the vocal cords. As a result, this will offer Lin an opportunity to display his vocal prowess during performances.

Lin will out on the play starting on July 1 at the National Taiwan University Hospital. In the days following, the play will be staged at the Mackay Memorial Hospital and the Taipei City Council. Tickets are free of charge, but donations are welcome. For more information, please call the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Association at （02） 2556-2116.