A man from Spokane and father of six has contracted an extremely rare skin condition that's even baffling medical experts at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.
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Ryan Becker, 38, noticed painful sores appearing on his legs in January, per the Daily Mail. He first noticed them after the family took a trip to Disneyland. One popped on his leg and went purple before turning black.
Concerned, Becker sought medical help, but many medical professionals were baffled by his symptoms. They eventually diagnosed him with Bullous Pyoderma Gangrenosum. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's a skin condition that usually starts with a small bump on the skin resembling a spider bite. The sores can rapidly worsen, growing in size and opening. The Clinic explains that an immune system disorder may cause Pyoderma Gangrenosum, but the exact cause is unknown.
"Just the unknown is really terrifying." Becker's wife, Mikkel, explained in an interview with KHQ TV. "When you have numerous doctors telling you 'we don't know what this is' and 'this isn't like something we have ever seen,' and they are horrified and worried. It starts to worry you, too."
The Father Of Six Eventually Visited The Mayo Clinic
After numerous visits to medical outlets, Becker finally went to the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, these painful sores have spread to 40-50% of Beckers's body with severity doctors have never seen before. The severity makes medical professionals unsure if he was misdiagnosed.
"I'm in so much pain. I'm crying, I'm sweating," Becker told KHQ. "But I'm also filled with this awe and respect and joy. There are 70 other people on the planet right now that statistically are suffering from the same thing I am. How am I the lucky one that gets to go to the Mayo?"
Doctors at the clinic are working tirelessly to get to the bottom of Becker's condition. Tragically, unless his condition improves, he may only have six months to live. Despite the bleak situation, Becker remains in good spirits. "We could either be negative about it and spend the next six months being miserable, or we could be positive," he bravely explained.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help with medical costs. The fundraiser also explains that although they have good medical insurance, it comes with caveats, meaning it won't last. The couple can't work for the foreseeable future. At the time of writing, the campaign has raised $35,087 of its $65k goal.
