These horrifying pictures show the true extent of a tumour-causing condition an eight-year-old boy has to suffer.
Amare Stover is called a ‘monster’ by cruel bullies because he was born with neurofibromatosis type one (NF1).
In addition to twisting and distorting his face, he has severe learning difficulties and his swellings have left him blind in one eye.
Doctors have warned that he will eventually lose his sight completely unless he has an operation soon as the masses just keep on growing.
His mother Kandice Stover, 30, from Decatur, Alabama, says that her son battles stigma everyday because of the genetic disorder.
Amare Stover was born with neurofibromatosis type one – a genetic disorder that causes tumours to develop all over his body
She added: ‘He has tumours all over his head, there are a lot of them and they have grown to be very big, which has twisted his face in the process.
‘The size of them affects him a lot, he gets made fun of, gets stares from people whenever he goes out in public and has been called a “monster”.
‘Some of the children won’t play with him or say he is “ugly”, which makes it really hard, I don’t understand why people can’t just be respectful.
‘Some adults have asked him where he got his “mask” from, it’s really very hurtful and it only gets worse around Halloween.
‘I tell him that he is just like any other eight-year-old and tell him not to worry because people are mean and not right.
‘In my eyes, he’s a very normal eight-year-old, he goes through a lot but you would never know it he runs around, loves sports and plays just like any other child his age.’
In addition to twisting and distorting his face, he has severe learning difficulties and his swellings have left him blind in one eye
His mother Kandice Stover, 30, from Decatur, Alabama, says that her son battles stigma everyday because of his tumours
When he was born, Amare’s left eye was a little swollen. After taking him to the doctor, he was found to have glaucoma and NF1.
A neurologist almost immediately started working to reduce pressure on his eye, caused by tumours wrapping around his eye-socket.
In 2012, during an MRI to monitor the growth of his tumours, Amare suddenly stopped breathing.
He had to be fitted with a permanent trach tube because the tumours grew into his throat and risked choking him to death.
Ms Stover said: ‘Doctors gave him a trach tube because they thought one day he just wouldn’t wake up and would stop breathing in his sleep.
‘Before he used to snore badly, which was caused by him struggling for breath because of the tumours.’
Despite having multiple laser treatments, his left eye has now swollen completely shut and now he can only see fractionally out of the other.
With his sight hastily diminishing in his right eye, doctors have told this family to prepare for the worst.
When he was born, Amare’s left eye was a little swollen. After taking him to the doctor, he was found to have glaucoma and NF1
In 2012, during an MRI to monitor the growth of his tumours, Amare suddenly stopped breathing. He had to be fitted with a permanent trach tube because the tumours grew into his throat and risked choking him to death
Ms Stover said: ‘Doctors have recommended that I start learning braille so that I can teach my son because the tumours growing around his eyes and in his ear canal.
‘They tell me he will most likely lose his sight and hearing due to his condition.’
Later this month, Amare will consult with plastic surgeons to see if they can remove some of the tumorous mass around his eyes in a bid to save his sight.
The chemotherapy medication he has been on for five years to try to shrink the tumours has yet to work.
Ms Stover, who is a single parent, is fundraising to cover the costs of her son’s medical bills, travelling to appointments and basic needs for their family.
She said: ‘His father is not around, so I have had to take care of him since he was four months old and have struggled to find a job, funds to pay for his treatment and more.
‘At one point, I lost my home when he needed surgery to have the trach and g-tube fitted, I had to move in with a friend.
‘There have been times where I’ve had to take him five times a month to the hospital and I don’t have a car, so have had to beg people for rides and use the free bus when we can.
‘It’s hard to find employment because there are a lot of days where due to my son being on chemo medication he’s too ill to go to school.’
Anyone wanting to donate to their cause can do so here.
Later this month, Amare will consult with plastic surgeons to see if they can remove some of the tumorous mass around his eyes in a bid to save his sight