Born tough: Toddler defies odds

When Mason van Dyk was born with a rare skin disorder doctors said he would not survive the week.

Days after his birth his right hand fell off because of poor circulation.

But Mason defied the odds and now, 20 months later, he is a feisty toddler who loves Barney, the children's TV character, and dishing out high fives.

People with Harlequin ichthyosis suffer severe dehydration and respiratory problems, and have a high risk of infection. There is no cure and Mason is believed to be the only person with the condition in South Africa.

He was born with skin so hard and thick that it formed diamond-shaped plates separated by deep cracks.

His mother, Lisa Biscombe, 26, of Goedemoed, Cape Town, said: "We had to make a decision. If he took a turn for the worst, would we fight to save him or would we instead provide comfort and care - keeping him pain-free, but letting him pass on? We chose comfort and care, one of the hardest decisions we ever had to make."

Luckily for Biscombe and her fiancé, Jonathan van Dyk, 26, their son was a fighter. And his parents are fighters too. They keep his skin hydrated with moisturisers that cost R6500 a month.

What they want most is for him to be able to go to a normal school. They are handing out information cards about the condition in the hope that they will make Mason's life easier.