A Clearwater, Florida, infant who was born with a growth on his back was dubbed \u201clittle Ninja Turtle\u201d by his parents, as it resembled a \u201cturtle shell.\u201dJames McCallum, 19 months, was given the nickname due to the rare skin condition \u2014 which puzzled doctors.<\/p>\n
According to James\u2019 mother Kaitlyn McCallum, 35, ultrasounds did not reveal anything about the baby\u2019s condition before he was born on Aug. 19, 2021.<\/p>\n
However, the new mom and her husband Tim, 41, became worried when they noticed James\u2019 back was scabbing and developing lumps.\u201cIt looked kind of like a birthmark but scabbed over in parts \u2014 it was a little concerning, as it looked like something was wrong,\u201d Kaitlyn told South West News Service.<\/p>\n
When the mark grew \u2014 resembling a large mole \u2014 his parents took him for tests, waiting months for results.\u201cThe doctors didn\u2019t really know what it was at that point,\u201d Kaitlyn recalled.\u201cIt covered 75% of his back at the start, and it had started to get fattier and more lumpy,\u201d she continued. \u201cIt seemed like it was growing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looked kind of like a birthmark but scabbed over in parts \u2014 it was a little concerning, as it looked like something was wrong,\u201d Kaitlyn told South West News Service.When the mark grew \u2014 resembling a large mole \u2014 his parents took him for tests, waiting months for results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe doctors didn\u2019t really know what it was at that point,\u201d Kaitlyn recalled.\u201cIt covered 75% of his back at the start, and it had started to get fattier and more lumpy,\u201d she continued. \u201cIt seemed like it was growing.\u201d<\/p>\n
James was born with a rare skin condition that left him unable to sleep on his back. Courtesy Kaitlyn McCallum \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
The baby\u2019s skin condition baffled doctors. Courtesy Kaitlyn McCallum \/ SWNS
\nJames\u2019 lump grew rapidly, becoming so cumbersome for the baby that he had to sleep on his side.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It] had become like a turtle shell on his back,\u201d she explained. \u201cHe couldn\u2019t put his head down flat because it was so bulky.\u201d<\/p>\n
James had his first surgery to remove the nevus in February 2022, first having an MRI on his brain and spine to assess whether it was growing internally.<\/p>\n
The new parents say James\u2019 quality of life is much better now that the mass has been removed.Courtesy Kaitlyn McCallum \/ SWNS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Clearwater, Florida, infant who was born with a growth on his back was dubbed \u201clittle Ninja Turtle\u201d by his parents, as it resembled a \u201cturtle shell.\u201dJames McCallum, 19 months, was given the nickname due to the rare skin condition \u2014 which puzzled doctors. According to James\u2019 mother Kaitlyn McCallum, 35, ultrasounds did not reveal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-memorial"],"yoast_head":"\n