New Delhi: Nine-year-old Ethan Kranig, from the United States suffers from a rare cleft disorder which does not allow him to cry or sweat.
The disorder, that has left him with just two fingers on his hands, is caused by a genetic mutation that affects one in 10 million people.
Ethan Kranig was diagnosed with this rare disorder called ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia-cleft syndrome (EEC) when he was born.
According to a report in Daily Mail, Ethan was born with a cleft lip and palette, cleft hands, cleft feet, without teeth and with urinary and GI problems.
Reportedly, his mother, Natalie Kranig, said life has not been easy since his birth. His anus was clefted to his scrotum when he was born. So his waste has to be collected in a colostomy bag.
The nine-year-old was also born without tear ducts or sweat glands, which is the biggest challenge especially in the summer, his mother told Daily Mail.
Doctors only performed surgery to restructure his anatomy when he got a little older.
The little boy also wear dentures as he was born with no teeth.
The disease is typically spread from parent to offspring, but in Ethan's case, neither of his parent carried the gene and it was a random genetic mutation when he was conceived.
As per the reports, EEC syndrome is a rare form of ectodermal dysplasia, characterized by clefts to different parts of the body, missing fingers and toes, missing or complete lack of teeth, missing tear ducts, and inability to sweat.
The symptoms of this rare disease are severe and will affect day-to-day life, but it does not impact one's life span.
Till date, Ethan has had 29 different surgeries and will need more as he grows.
Ethan's family has set up a YouCaring site to help raise money for his treatment and numerous surgeries.
