Joelison Fernandes Da Silva Tallest Brazilian. Country: Brazil

The Tallest Brazilian

28-year-old Brazilian giant, Jolison Fernandes da Silva, stood at a towering height of 234 cm for half of his life, hiding away from the public eye in his home before finding his soulmate, a woman standing at a height of 152 cm. Shy and introverted, Jolison dropped out of school due to constant bullying. For many years, he refused to leave his family home. However, after a successful surgery to remove a benign tumor on his pituitary gland, his life took a turn for the better. Speaking about his wife, 21-year-old Evem Medeiros, Jolison said, "When I first saw her, I immediately fell in love. I was charmed. I wanted to be with her all the time. The height difference didn't matter." Former gold prospector Jolison Silva admits that such a "height difference" confuses people, especially when they start thinking about the intimate aspect of their marriage. "I am often asked about it," says the Brazilian. "At first, it annoyed me, but now it's normal, I've gotten used to it. I answer questions with humor. Some people, discussing the size of my foot, come to the thought that my 'dignity' must be large too." Jolison continues, "I suppose the size of my foot is misleading. Our personal life is normal. We adapt. In a lying position, everything fits for me." Silva grew up in a small village in Paraiba, Brazil, where he was mocked from a young age. He got into fights with bullies, which caused him many problems, and eventually made the decision to drop out of school, much to the disappointment of his mother, 45-year-old Ivanilda. She says, "I knew that something was not right with Jolison from an early age. In infancy, every few months, his children's shoes became too small, and I constantly had to buy larger sizes." Ivanilda continues, "I said to myself, 'Something is not right here.' But doctors explained that I just had a big child who would eventually stop growing. And we waited for that to happen, but the growth did not stop. When he turned eight, I realized that he was growing at abnormal rates. By the age of fourteen, his height reached 193 cm." "We lived in a rural area, and no one knew him. He hid half of his life. If someone came to our house, because of his excessive shyness, he hid so that no one could see him. I was very worried." Later, doctors discovered a benign tumor on Jolison's pituitary gland. It was because of this tumor that his body continuously produced a massive amount of growth hormones. At first, he refused to have the tumor removed, learning that the recovery period after the surgery would take three months. He was warned that the tumor could be fatal, but Silva remained adamant. It was only in 2007, succumbing to his family's persuasion, that Jolison agreed to the operation. The less invasive laser surgery, during which access to the tumor was obtained through the nose, was successful. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the operated man from growing to his current height of 234 cm.
Once his gigantism was under control, Jolison felt a sense of confidence. Being a fan of computer games, the Brazilian decided to spend less time in the virtual world and show himself to the world. As it turned out, Silva became the tallest man in all of Brazil. He had been a gold prospector and worked on a plantation before giving it all up due to health problems. Today, Silva earns a living by appearing in advertisements for various companies that produce frozen meals. Having become a true celebrity in his homeland, Jolison gathered an army of fans, among whom was his future wife, Evem Medeiros. She contacted him on Facebook to wish him a happy birthday. Then they exchanged numbers and started dating two months later.
"In essence, she was my first woman," says Silva. "The first woman in my life. I was 28 years old... I thought everything about her was beautiful, especially her eyes. She is very caring. She does not work on camera and always remains honest and attentive. She never lied to me."
They got married a year later. Evem, who hopes to work as a stylist-hairdresser, admitted that she was initially afraid of the intimate side of marriage. But all her fears turned out to be unfounded.
"We want to start a family," says Jolison's wife. "That's why I calculate the date of ovulation, monitor the temperature, everything. All I have to do is call my husband, and he immediately understands what's going on."
Evem explains further, "I have polycystic ovaries, so there are months when ovulation does not occur. I have been tested and now I know that it is more difficult for me to get pregnant. But my husband has not done any tests yet, so we need to take him to the hospital too to make sure that the problem is only with me."
In addition to the difficulties of family planning, everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping are also quite challenging for the tall Jolison, who cannot stay in a standing position for long periods of time. At the same time, many are willing to let the famous Brazilian skip the line.
Ivanilda, Jolison's mother, honestly confessed about his marriage, "I was seriously jealous when he got married. I dedicated my whole life to him, so sharing him with someone else is not easy. But as a mother, I want him to be happy."
It was difficult for the mother to adjust to the idea that she would now have to pass on her experience and teach her daughter-in-law how to take care of Jolison. And he still has to receive injections every month and take four different medications every day to control his condition. Most likely, Silva will need even more help in the future...
The Brazilian is set to fly to Paris, where he will meet with other giants, including Turkish farmer Sultan Kosen, whose height is 251 cm.
"The most interesting thing is that I will be face to face with someone," Jolison concludes. "The last time this happened, I was a child."