18-month-old baby, James McCallum, from Florida, suffers from an inherited genetic defect that causes dark growths to grow.

When James was born, dark spots covered 75 percent of his back. And over the next two months, it proved to be thriving.

– It’s a bit worrying because it seems something is wrong. Before its growth was removed, it grew rapidly and became almost like a tortoise shell on its back. It got to the point where we had to let him sleep on his side because he couldn’t put his head down because it was so big,” said James’ mother, Kaitlyn McCallum. Daily mail.

On Go Find Me old man wrote:

“James was born with a skin condition called Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus, a frightening name for a large mole on his back. Through testing and procedures, we learn a lot about rare conditions that can become frightening if left untreated and monitored.”

After two major surgeries, doctors were able to remove the growth, and James is still undergoing treatment to create normal skin to grow over the damaged area.

Namely, he was born with a congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN), which is a condition that affects about one percent of babies born in the United States. But larger growths like James’s are rare, affecting about one in 50,000 births.

The condition is caused by an error in the development of pigment cells during the first trimester of pregnancy. This causes benign malformations such as tumors on the back.

If left untreated, the growths can eventually affect the brain and spinal cord. It also increases the risk of skin cancer.

Such growths usually measure less than 1.5 cm, but in James’ case it covers most of his back. It was only at birth that the condition was discovered.

“The doctors didn’t really know what it was at the time,” said James’ mother Kaitlyn.

The parents observed that not only did their son find it difficult to sleep, but he also frequently scratched his back.

When the boy was finally diagnosed, doctors checked to see if the growth had grown inward and was affecting the brain and spinal cord. When it became clear that was not the case, they started two major surgeries to remove the large growth.

After the operation, the parents wrote on Go Found Me:

“UPDATED!!! The surgery couldn’t have gone any better! We were very surprised by the results. He recovered quickly. Back in Florida tomorrow ready to start this healing. Thank you so much to everyone who sent love, prayers and good thoughts. Our village is unique!”