LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – At FOX5, we love to bring you updates on stories we know you are invested in just like we are.
The story of Carter, the 7-year-old boy who has a rare skin condition and could not close his eyes captured hearts everywhere.
Even though Carter is able to close his eyes now, it was a very intricate procedure done by ophthalmologist Dr. Bobby Korn and his team at UC San Diego.
Dr. Korn tells FOX5 he has done hundreds of skin graft surgeries, but none like Carter’s.
“We had no idea what to expect in a case like this,” Dr. Korn said.
Carter has lamellar ichthyosis which means his skin does not shed properly.
However, this also makes the skin around his eyes so tight and dry it was impossible to close, which then caused another condition called ectropion.
“It’s a really rare condition these are cases where we see typically one or two in our entire career or lifetime,” Dr. Korn said.
The case was so rare, Dr. Korn had to reach back into his textbooks.
“What I had to do is go back to primary literature and see what could actually work,” Dr. Korn said.
He realized he could take skin from another part of Carter’s body and place it on his eye lids.
“I did research for an entire month and being a big academic center we have colleagues in areas and specialties.” Dr. Korn said. “We helped plan this case together for this really special child.”
Dr. Korn also went to another place to learn more about Carter.
“I’ve been watching all the stories on FOX and keeping an eye on everything its just so exciting seeing all the stuff you have been doing,” Dr. Korn said.
However, it was the FOX5 community who stepped in and helped pay for Carter’s medical bills for the surgery.
“Without the efforts you did to really help him bring awareness to raise funds we wouldn’t have ever met,” Dr Korn said. “So you are as much part of his operation and success as we are.”
That successful surgery came after three hour surgery.
“Ill tell you after we got the graft and placed them on the eye lid everyone in the room was giving each other high fives,” Dr. Korn said.
Dr. Korn also credits this surgery to Carter‘s mom Shai Bresee who researched cases similar to Carter’s brought them to Dr. Korn’s attention.
The skin graft surgery on Carter’s eyes should last 10 years but it depends on how his skin grows.
Carter will continue following up with Dr. Korn in San Diego.
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