Turtle Boy

SwizzleStick · #1 Apr 27, '12, 7:56 am

I'm so glad that modern medicine could help this little guy have surgery and a chance at acceptance and an ordinary life. This kind of thing makes me realize that my crosses are not too much or too heavy when I think of the crosses that others have to bear.

"Turtle Boy

In a tiny hamlet in Colombia, six-year-old Didier has struggled with a huge burden - a rare condition called a Congenital Melanocytic Nevus. It's a giant mole that grew so much it covered 40% of his body. It resembled a shell, and Didier was nicknamed Turtle Boy. "...

Blue excerpt from: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/b...s-27/episode-1

SwizzleStick · #2 Apr 27, '12, 7:58 am

"Turtle Boy: Mole on kid’s back grew so big it looked like a turtle’s shell

A boy’s mole grew so big that by the age of six it covered his entire like a turtle’s shell, earning him the nickname of Turtle Boy.

The rare birthmark – congenital melanocytic nevus – affects around 1 in 20,000 newborn babies but a top surgeon described Didier Montalvo’s condition as the worst he’d ever seen."...

Blue excerpt from: http://www.newscorners.com/turtle-bo...turtles-shell/

Samson01 · #3 Apr 27, '12, 9:32 am

Pretty sure they call it a "bikini" nevus as well. My daughter has one the size of a fist on her head, hidden by her hair line. We take her to a specialist once a year to check it. Though mainly cosmetic, it can be removed, but we opted not to as it isn't noticable and doesn't effect the chance's of skin cancer. Too bad he has been called that 'nickname' though. Samson

SwizzleStick · #4 Apr 27, '12, 9:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samson01

Pretty sure they call it a "bikini" nevus as well. My daughter has one the size of a fist on her head, hidden by her hair line. We take her to a specialist once a year to check it. Though mainly cosmetic, it can be removed, but we opted not to as it isn't noticable and doesn't effect the chance's of skin cancer. Too bad he has been called that 'nickname' though. Samson

Glad to hear that your daughter doesn't have increased chance of skin cancer, that it is mostly a minor cosmetic issue for her.

Yes, I agree the nickname is terrible. It is heartbreaking to read that this poor boy and his family were actually shunned because of his condition. I am so glad he was able to have surgery and can now live a full life.