A toddler with an ultra-rare form of dwarfism which affects less than 100 kids globally is the world’s biggest fan of — ELTON JOHN.
Adorable footage shows tiny dancer Rayland Camp, five – who is just 25ins tall, weighs 17lbs 11oz and fits into clothes for three month olds – boogying to his favourite tunes.
The tot has rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, a rare and incurable type of dwarfism which causes seizures, skeletal abnormalities and shortening of the bones.
The condition means Rayland is unable to talk apart from the word ‘mama’ and cannot walk or point, so communicates using a range of different laughs and cries.
The adorable youngster also has reduced hearing, but despite the life-limiting symptoms his mom Brittney Camp, 30, says he LOVES listening to music.
She blares out records every day and first realized that Rayland’s favorite artist was Elton John when she played Benny and the Jets and he erupted into laughter.
Now every time the megastar’s music plays, Rayland will wiggle his fingers and break into a huge grin – a precious reaction that melts his mom’s heart.
Mom-of-two Brittney of Pace, Florida, said: “One day I was just letting a load of songs play through and then Benny and the Jets by Elton John came on.
“Straight away Rayland started giggling and laughing. He was kicking his feet and playing with his fingers and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh’ – I had never seen him like that.
“That was when he was about three years old. Now whenever I put Benny and the Jets on he will just start giggling, which is so sweet.”
She added: “We are definitely learning his way of communicating and he’s managed to show us that he loves music.
“He likes listening to all sorts. Sometimes it’s country music, sometimes it’s Disney songs and sometimes it’s classic rock.
“He doesn’t really care for songs that are slow paced and there are pitches that hurt his hears, so when he hears those he will cry.
“It’s hard to know what level of understanding he has but I know for sure that he loves Elton John.
“When I realized that I was like, ‘This kid has a great taste in music.'”
She added: “He is most definitely the biggest little Elton John fan in the world.”
When Rayland was born via C-section at 36 weeks, doctors noticed his limbs were short and he couldn’t move his legs, which were crossed.
He was rushed into intensive care but baffled doctors were unable to diagnose him with RCDP until he was two weeks old.
Brittney, a single mom, said: “They had never seen anything like it and they didn’t know much about it. All they could tell me was that it was terminal.
“I really didn’t know what to do at first. I was totally overwhelmed and in shock.
“Before I left the hospital with him I said to a doctor, ‘Am I going to have to bury my child?’ and all he could tell me was, ‘I don’t know.’ It was really hard.”
According to international charity Rhizo Kids, which has supported Rayland and his mom, there are less than 100 children globally with RCDP.
Kids with the condition are considered ‘long-term survivors’ if they make it past the age of five, Brittney said, and Rayland turned five in September.
He has doubled in size since he was born in 2012 and continues to grow but very gradually, meaning people often mistake him for a newborn.
He spends a lot of time at hospital appointments, relies on three types of medication to keep his seizures under control and his adrenal gland doesn’t work.
But despite relying on a feeding tube and needing round-the-clock care, doting mom Brittney, who also has a seven-year-old son called Pistol, says Rayland is thriving.
She said: “When he was born it was very hard to accept that he was never going to do certain things like go to school, take his first steps or run around playing.
“That was tough. The best way I can describe it is that it was like grieving for somebody that was still there. It took a while for me to come to terms with that.
“But the fact that he responds to things like music – and particularly Elton John – in the way he does is a breath of fresh air for me.
“It means I will always be able to interact with him through music and dance around with him and so, even if it’s just for a little bit, we can be normal.
“Even if it’s just for an hour a day, it is a special thing that I can share with him.”
To donate to children with RCDP visit rhizokids.com
