Warning: This article contains distressing images.
This is one of those stories that make you think twice about how humanity still has a long way to go – a story about a little boy who survived a vicious attack by two Rottweilers and lived to tell the tale. But due to the attack’s severity, he was left with a disfigured face, and society started calling him a “monster.”
The boy’s name is Ryder Wells, and he was merely 21 months old during the attack. It was Thanksgiving of 2015 when he and his mother, Brittany, visited their family friends. The mother speaks about the horrific incident below:
“We were eating breakfast and Ryder was back and forth to his toys and back for bacon then he disappeared.
“I looked out of the window and he was face down in the garden.
“He had pyjamas on and they’d been completely ripped off so he just had a sleeve on. When we picked him up and rolled him, his face was just gone.
“He’d been around the dogs before and they’d been fine so I don’t know what happened.
“The doctors said they would do what they could but we weren’t expecting him to make it.
“They said it’s a miracle that he’s still here because he was so small and the injuries were so severe.
“He had to have a tracheostomy because of the punctured lung and they thought that the dogs had bitten so far into his skull that he would be paralysed.”
During the attack, Ryder lost his entire right cheek, more than half of his lip, his teeth were crushed, his right lung was punctured, and his arm was broken. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he received more than 14 straight hours of surgery; that was any mother’s biggest nightmare to withstand that much anxiety and uncertainty.
But thankfully, the 21-month-old boy had a lot of fight in him and survived the surgeries – but with a permanently disfigured face. He had undergone more than 50 facial reconstruction surgeries. Ryder will undergo more surgeries in the future to fully heal himself.
The sad part is how people react when they look at him. As described by Brittany:
“He knows that people are talking about him but he doesn’t say much. He wears glasses and a cap and sometimes he’ll hang his head to hide his face.
“I try to deal with it in a better manner so it doesn’t affect him so much. But I just tell him every day that he’s beautiful, different is beautiful and it’s ok to be different.
“I just reassure him as much as I can but I’m absolutely terrified about when he goes to school. There are always going to be a couple of kids who aren’t kind.
“When he started kindergarten, the kids learned about Ryder before they met him so they wouldn’t be as shocked.
“You always want your kid to be accepted and to fit in.
“Just because he’s different, it doesn’t make him less of a person.”
But at least there’s a glimmer of hope for the boy; he has a supportive group of friends, and everyone in town seems to love and support him. Brittany said:
“He’s really adapted. He has a great group of friends and people in the town know him now so that boosts his confidence. He’s been amazing how he’s adapted after what he’s been through.”
Ryder is now five. The family has started a GoFundMe for the boy’s future surgeries and treatments. We wish Ryder the best life and hope people can be more kind towards those of us who struggle – the world truly is a cruel place.
Comment Your Thoughts Below
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I just adore him! I was also a victim of a dog bite and was deformed because of it on the face! I want to send all my light and love to a Ryder and his momma! Keep raising that handsome young man right! He is beautiful he is handsome he is stronger than most adults these days! I wish I could just hug him and tell him no matter what keep your head held high even when you get those nasty people around you!
Just be strong parent’s and kid it will be fine soon most ppl are not kind but alot of us are still here to support him and family may the good Lord bless him and family. Adjust more patience is a virtue no matter what like mother say different is better he dont need to act differently what matter most is he still alive just move on chin up God is good everyday.
God bless you Ryder! You are so handsome baby boy, I wish I could give you a big hug right now. Sending prayers to you and your mom! Hold your head up high big guy and know that you are loved!
Ryder. You are the bravest young man I have ever seen. You are so handsome and know that you have hundreds of people who love you.
God Bless You.
Pat K
What a beautiful, strong boy you are Ryder. May God continue to bless and cover you as you go forward. Know that you are love and admired by many for your bravery and fight, you survived what most wouldn’t and you are stronger for it. Take great care of him mommy and continue to shower him with love. I love you and is touched by this story and your fight and beauty. God bless you both.
I was bitten by a dog when I was young. Have had many surgeries on my face because of this. People are cruel. I remember not even wanting to leave the house. I’d wear scarves over the lower half of my face. I didn’t want to even see friends. I’ve been best friends with a girl since 7th grade. She didn’t care one bit. We’ve been close friends for over 25 years now. Don’t listen to the naysayers. It’s hard enough to go through life, not looking like everyone else, but don’t let others control what you do or feel!