Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), often referred to as "brittle bone disease," Cheng's bones are extremely fragile. Yet despite the risk to his safety, Cheng spends eight to 12 hours each day driving a taxi, customized to cater to his height, which was stunted by the disease.
Victims of OI, known in Chinese as "glass dolls," do not all suffer the same symptoms, as the disease is categorized into four main types. Cheng's case is by no means as fragile as some, with some seriously afflicted infants dying before reaching puberty; however, if he were involved in a car accident while on the job, his chances of survival are much lower than average. Today the 35-year-old father remains alive, happily married and seemingly more cheerful and optimistic about life than the average cabby.
"I drive because for me, driving is something that makes me feel really happy," said Cheng yesterday as he was mobbed roadside by Chinese- and English-language media as he drove up to the Taipei office of the Taiwan Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation in his taxi yesterday.
"Actually, I've been in a few car accidents, but nothing too serious," Cheng told the pack of reporters.
"I'm not scared of crashing," he said in a laissez-faire manner, as he held one of his two children. The boy and girl, although still toddlers, stand as high as the 123cm-tall man's waist. An official measurement by the Taiwan Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation pronounced him the shortest taxi driver in Taiwan.
"Of course customers worry, 'How can he reach the brake, since he's so short?' but it's really no less dangerous than any other cab in Taiwan," he said with a smile.
"They often question if I actually have a driver's license, but I just whip it out and let them take a good look," Cheng laughed.
Asked about whether he meets patrons who refuse to ride with him, Cheng immediately replies "of course," adding that he is not discouraged, as "it's really up to them whether they want to take a taxi or not."
"If they don't want to ride with me, then it really makes no difference to me. They should be given the freedom to choose," explained Cheng.
OI arises from an abnormality in type one collagen which is found in bones, tendons, skin and eyes. There is no cure available.
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