At just five years old, little Ryder Wells has endured more horror than most people face in an entire lifetime.
Against all odds, the youngster from North Carolina survived a vicious attack by two rottweilers while visiting family for Thanksgiving in 2015.
He was only 21 months old when the two 100‑pound dogs mauled him. He lost half of his face, his teeth were crushed, and he suffered a broken arm and a punctured lung.
His family didn’t believe he would survive, but this little fighter pulled through and has since undergone around 50 surgeries. Instead of being celebrated for surviving such a horrific ordeal, this sweet boy now faces cruel comments from both children and adults.
His teaching assistant said that when Ryder first started school, even adults would stare at him.
“When we go to the park, there’s a child who points and screams ‘monster’ at him before running away,” his mom Brittany said, according to The Mirror.
“While shopping the other day, someone shouted ‘ew’ at him. It’s heartbreaking as a parent that after everything he’s been through, people still aren’t kind about something he can’t control. “But he is such a fighter—he doesn’t let anything hold him back.”
Ryder’s survival is considered a “miracle,” as even doctors didn’t expect him to make it.
Now the 31‑year‑old mom from Granite Falls is terrified about her son starting school.
“He wears glasses and a cap, and sometimes he’ll lower his head to hide his face. But I tell him every day that he’s beautiful, that different is beautiful, and that it’s okay to be different. “I reassure him as much as I can, but I’m absolutely terrified about him going to school. There will always be a few kids who aren’t kind.”
