LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Life for a remarkable 8-year-old Las Vegas boy has gotten much easier since getting a life-changing surgery back in September.
FOX5 first brought you the story of Carter a year ago when he needed surgery on his eyelids.
Carter’s rare skin condition called lamellar ichthyosis made it impossible for him to close his eyes.
As soon as we introduced you to him, our FOX5 viewers stepped in to help with his medical costs. FOX5 even followed Carter to San Diego in September for his surgery, and by last fall, he was able to open and close his eyes.
Since then, we had many viewers reach out asking for an update on Carter. FOX5 figured it was time to pay him another visit.
FOX5 was surprised to find Carter grew a little taller and was rocking a new hairstyle.
But he explained to us, a lot more has changed.
“The headaches are gone now, and I get to sleep better,” Carter said.
However, he still has to deal with his skin condition which makes the skin on his body tight and flakey.
He explained how he has to continuously put Aquaphor on his eye lids, but it’s healing nicely, according to his mom Shai Bresee.
“The grafts are set and essentially, we have to wait for the coloring, and it will also flatten out more over time,” Bresee said.
Despite the discomfort, Bresee tells FOX5 this is the best version of Carter.
“I think the fact that he is getting true rest now has impacted his whole personality. He is so much more happier now,” Bresee said.
During our visit FOX5 soon found, Carter is not only happier, but a little sassier as well. It came out during an intense game of UNO.
“He used to be that quiet fly on the wall kid. Now he is not that at all,” Bresee said.
Bresee said it has been a whirlwind of a year, but Carter’s recovery was made possible thanks to many of our viewers who helped pay for his medical bills, and made it possible for Bresee to stay home and be by his side.
“We have been very very fortunate and a lot of it has to do with you guys,” she said.
This summer, Carter will get to go on a plane ride for the very first time to visit his grandparents in Missouri.
When asked what else he has planned for the summer, Carter said he will chill and go to Cowabunga Bay since he loves the water so much.
Have a tip? You can reach reporter Victoria Saha at [email protected]
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