“It looked like a birthmark, but with scabs in places. It was a little unsettling, because it felt like something was wrong,” Kaitlyn tells South West News Service.
When the spot grew – it looked like a large mole – his parents took him for tests and waited months for the results.
James first underwent surgery to remove the nevus in February 2022, and then underwent an MRI of his brain and spine to determine whether the nevus was growing inside the body.
The new parents say James’ quality of life is much better now that the mass has been removed.Courtesy Kaitlyn McCallum / SWNS
Fortunately, there was no internal growth and his parents began the removal process. After the first operation, doctors tested the excised skin for disease and the results were negative.
Worried that the lump might grow back, Tim and Kaitlyn joined a Facebook group to get in touch with other sufferers.
After contacting a specialist in Chicago, James’ parents decided to begin tissue expansion, which involves surgically regrowing “good” skin, in September 2022.
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