Thousands of people came together last weekend to throw a parade for a 3-year-old born with a rare genetic disorder whose doctors now say has either weeks or months to live.
The child, Tucker Langford of Kansas City, Missouri, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis, a disorder, an illness also called “butterfly skin” because it causes blistering, fragile skin, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Tucker’s parents, Chandler and Dakota Langford, have lovingly tended to his skin, which can become blistered and be extremely painful from even gentle touches.
“He’s a happy little boy, he doesn’t let anything stop him at all and he’s determined to do whatever he wants to do,” Chandler Langford told Fox 4. “And I mean, here he is. He’s Tucker tough and that’s why he has that name.”
But in August, the Langfords also learned their energetic toddler had a terminal heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, that causes fluid around his heart and puts him at risk for heart failure.
“So, he’s been on medication, and then two weeks ago, the doctors had a conversation with all of us, and they told us that they were pretty much at their end of what they can do for Tucker,” Chandler Langford told The Kansas City Star.
That’s when family members decided to throw a parade for Tucker, who loves trucks. The small event became something much bigger after a local fire department shared the family’s story.
The parade on Saturday (Oct. 11) featured construction trucks, emergency responder vehicles, and motorcycles on display for thousands of attendees that included the 3-year-old and his family, according to local outlets.
“I just hope it brings joy and it helps to alleviate some of his pain cause he goes through a lot,” Amy Langford, Tucker’s grandma, told Fox 4. “So now, we’re like, we gotta do everything we can for him and make him feel as happy as he can for whatever time we have with him.”