Boy With Rare Skin Disorder Was Ashamed Of His Look… Until He Met This Dog!

The dog was diagnosed with vitiligo the same year as this 8-year-old boy. To say they share a unique bond is an understatement.

Credit: KATU-TV

One might imagine that it’s not easy to be affected by vitiligo, a skin condition that stems from an autoimmune disorder and results in white patches appearing on various parts of the body. For 8-year-old Carter Blanchard, the condition is an annoyance, an inconvenience and a reason for low self-esteem.

The boy’s mother, Arkansas-based Stephanie Adcock, recalled:

His face was transforming very quickly. The first thing he’d tell me when he got in the car is that he hated his face and hated the way he looked.”

For a long time, it seemed as if only a miracle could make Carter feel better about his unique appearance. The family’s prayers were relentless but eventually were answered when Stephanie found a 12-year-old purebred black Lab named Rowdy on the internet. Reportedly, the dog was diagnosed with vitiligo the same year Carter was. It seemed meant to be.

“I read that Rowdy had vitiligo, and I was blown away… When I showed Carter, he was so excited to see a dog that was famous for his vitiligo,” she said.

Earlier this month, Carter and Rowdy met for the first time. Stephanie told ABC News:

“When we walked in, I didn’t feel like we were walking in for the very first time. They were family already.”

Since meeting Rowdy, who is cared for by Niki Umbenhower of Canby, Oregon, Carter has become more confident and learned to embrace his uniqueness, says his mother.

Meet Carter, a special 8-year-old boy who was diagnosed with vitiligo. 

Credit: KATU-TV

For years, he’s suffered from poor self-esteem due to the skin condition. 

Credit: KATU-TV

That recently changed when he met Rowdy, a black lab who is affected by vitiligo, as well!

Credit: KATU-TV

“When we walked in, I didn’t feel like we were walking in for the very first time. They were family already, said Carters mother. 

Credit: KATU-TV

The duo’s friendship has helped the boy accept his unique look and feel happier. 

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