That any young child must endure the suffering brought on by cancer breaks my heart. Despite their incredible bravery, so many of them succumb to the enemy.
Fortunately, there are also some exceptional and inspiring stories of young people who have overcome all odds.
When Dylan Little was born nine years ago, doctors almost immediately recognized a problem. His back had skin that was dark red, unlike the rest of his body, which was covered in strange birthmarks.
Dylan was born, and the NICU received him right away. Birthmarks covered around 80% of the tiny child’s body, which made it tragically clear that he had a deadly condition called Congenital Melanocytic Nevus.
Naturally, his mother Kara, an air traffic controller in Atlanta, Georgia, was shocked to see her beloved son. Throughout her pregnancy, there had been no signs that anything was wrong. All of the ultrasounds and exams had gone according to plan.
Kara’s boy, however, was unlike anything she had ever envisioned when she first saw him.
“When Dylan was born, his face, arms, and legs were all covered in moles, and his back was completely black and bleeding. The biggest one went all the way down around his shoulders, tummy, and entire backside, extending from above his ears to the bottom. She noted in 2016 that there were “hundreds of satellites with moles ranging in size from half the size of a dollar to the dot of a pen,”
At the tender age of just five weeks, Dylan had already undergone a PET scan and an MRI to check for melanoma. Dylan had a rare condition that only affects one in 20,000 people and caused numerous melanin deposits in his brain.
The young boy’s “spots” in his brain caused him to start having seizures around the age of 4 months. Dylan’s parents, Kara and Nikki, were advised by the doctors that he would require numerous procedures throughout his first few years of life.
Patients with congenital melanocytic nevi are at a high risk of getting skin cancer. Therefore, they must always pay close attention to their birthmarks.
The medical professionals wanted to perform surgery to remove a big mole that covered most of Dylan’s back. It would not be an easy surgery, though, if skin from other parts of the baby’s body had to be transplanted.
As Dylan grew older, his medical team decided to proceed with more difficult surgeries. The youngster needed implants in his body that resembled breast implants so that he could produce enough skin for transplanting.
For three months, Dylan carried the implants, which caused him to add more skin. The aim was to remove the huge mole off the little boy’s back and then cover the area with adequate spare skin.
It’s fair to say that Dylan has already undergone a fair number of surgery. After 26 treatments, the boy’s large mole had around half of it removed.
His mother, Kara, said, “We’re holding onto hope that the moles never activate and become cancerous, but he could develop cancer at any time.” Depending on the part of the body, he undergoes surgery every three to six months.
Dylan has shown his doctors wrong so far, remaining a happy young child despite all of his surgery and the time he has spent recovering as a result.
According to Kara, who spoke to the Telegraph, “We are trying to do what’s best for him; we want to give him the fullest, longest life we possibly can.”
Dylan never ceases to astonish me; he always has a smile on his face, acts as though he owns the hospital, and all the nurses are familiar with and devoted to him.
Dylan is aware of how different he looks from other children. Strangers often pause and stare at him while he is out in public. Dylan simply tells them the reasons for his arrival when that happens. Most people are friendly toward him. However, there have been times when individuals have been exceedingly cruel.
“Once in a supermarket, a store manager asked us to leave because one of their customers was upset about having seen our child, which was very upsetting,” Kara recalled.
Kara, for good reason, does not try to conceal or hide her son.
“I’m not afraid at all to take him out, and I don’t want him to be worried or think there is something he should be ashamed of,” she said.
Anyone who wants to follow Dylan’s progress can do so thanks to his parents’ creation of a Facebook profile. Kara constantly updates the family on their progress. She is also working hard to spread the word about Dylan’s condition.
In 2016, Kara stated, “We are doing everything we can to keep him with us because we have no idea what his future holds at this point. He could have days, weeks, years, or decades to live.”
Dylan currently has 33 procedures under his belt, but he still has a positive outlook on life. He likes going fishing, playing baseball, and spending time with his family and friends.
At the age of nine, he is enjoying life to the fullest and is in better health than ever. Dylan still has a few moles, though, and it’s important to keep an eye on them to make sure nothing changes for the better.
Sadly, Dylan continues to require frequent hospital admissions. But up until this moment, every procedure went according to plan. As a true warrior, Dylan has overcome obstacles with aplomb. Just look at the cute child you have grown into now.
Your parents must be very proud to be able to watch you grow into a man and be able to share this life with you. If I had even half of your superpowers, I would be very appreciative. Dylan, may the Lord abundantly bless your valor! Try once more!
Sadly, life is not fair. Dylan Little, a brave 9-year-old boy, is fighting a battle that nobody should ever have to.No parent wants to see their child in distress, and they will do whatever it takes to make them happy again. We sincerely hope the rest of his business runs smoothly.
For the sake of this tiny fighter, kindly tell Dylan’s story.
