The thought of a little kid having to go through cancer treatment breaks my heart. So many of them fight with such bravery, only to lose their lives in the end.
Fortunately, there are also inspiring and miraculous accounts of children who defied the odds and made it through really difficult circumstances.
Doctors knew from immediately that something was wrong with Dylan Little, who was born nine years ago. His back was covered in dark red skin, and he had several unusual birthmarks all over his body.
About 80% of the child’s weak body was covered with birthmarks, making it obvious that he was suffering from the deadly illness known as Congenital Melanocytic Nevus.
Kara, his Atlanta, Georgia-based air traffic controller mother, was understandably taken aback upon first seeing her kid.
There had been no warning signs throughout her pregnancy. The ultrasounds and examinations had been successful.
However, Kara was shocked to see that her newborn son looked nothing like she had imagined. Dylan was born with moles covering his whole body, including his face, arms, and legs.
His back was completely black and bleeding. The biggest one started at the top of his head and continued all the way to the floor, wrapping around his shoulders, stomach, and posterior.
She revealed this to Kidspot in 2016: “There were hundreds of satellites where the moles varied in size from half a dollar to the dot of a pen.
Dylan was scanned for melanoma with a PET and an MRI when he was only five weeks old. Dylan had several melanin deposits in his brain due to an uncommon disease that affects just one in 20,000 people.
Around 4 months of age, the baby boy began having seziures because of the “spots” in his brain. Dylan’s parents, Kara and Nikki, were informed by doctors that he would need many operations throughout his infant and toddler years.
Congenital melanocytic nevus patients are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer. They must thus take special care to monitor the development of their birthmarks.
Doctors recommended surgical removal of the large mole that covered much of Dylan’s back. However, it wouldn’t be a simple procedure since the newborn would need skin from other areas of his body to be transplanted.
Dylan’s surgeons opted to go through with more complex procedures as he got older. Doctors had to inject implants into the boy’s body, much like breast implants, to stimulate the production of enough skin for transplantation.
Dylan gained more skin while carrying the implants for three months. The huge mole on the small boy’s back was excised in the hopes that the surrounding skin would be sufficient to conceal the scar.
To this point, it’s safe to say that Dylan has had more than his share of surgeries. After 26 procedures, just about half of the boy’s enormous mole remained.
Although his mother, Kara, told the Telegraph, “We’re holding onto hope that the moles never turn on and become cancerous,” he remains at risk for developing cancer at any time.
Depending on the location of his body, “he has surgery every three to six months.”Dylan has proved his doctors incorrect despite undergoing many operations and spending considerable time in recovery.
Kara told the Telegraph, “We are trying to do what is best for him, we want to give him the fullest, longest life we possibly can.”
“Dylan never ceases to amaze me; he always wears a broad grin on his face; he thinks he runs the hospital; and the nurses all know and adore him.”
Dylan is well aware that he stands out from the other kids at school. He often attracts the attention of onlookers in public. If such occurs, Dylan merely explains the reasoning for his appearance.
People tend to be kind and welcoming to him. However, there have been instances when people have been very cruel.
Kara: “Once, when we were in the supermarket, the manager asked us to leave because a customer was upset that they had seen our child.”
And yet, Kara is completely justified in her refusal to keep her son a secret or feel guilt for him. “I don’t want him to be worried or think there is something he should be ashamed.
“She said, adding that she had no reluctance to take him out. Dylan’s parents have set up a Facebook page for anyone interested in tracking his rehabilitation.
Kara often informs everyone on the family’s daily happenings. She is also exerting significant effort to raise public awareness of Dylan’s illness.
Kara noted in 2016 that since “we don’t know what his future holds at this point, he could have days, weeks, years, or decades,” the family was trying all possible to keep him around.
Present day Dylan Little Dylan has had 33 operations so far, but that hasn’t dampened his optimistic attitude on life.
He finds great joy in baseball, fishing, and time spent with loved ones. He’s 9 years old now, and in the best shape of his life. Dylan still has moles, and it’s important to keep an eye on them to make sure nothing bad happens.
And Dylan is still making occasional trips to the emergency room. All surgical procedures have been successful so far. A true fighter, Dylan has always fought back and come out on top.
Look at this adorable kid now; I’m happy your parents get to experience the joy of seeing you flourish before their eyes.
I would be eternally thankful even if I had only half of your abilities. Dylan, you have my prayers for courage. Stay determined.
Life isn’t fair, I’m afraid. Dylan Little, just 9 years old, is facing a challenge that no child his age should ever have to endure.
A parent’s first instinct is to alleviate any distress their kid may be experiencing. We pray that the remainder of his procedures succeed. Help us remember Dylan by telling his tale in his honour.