At just five years old , Ryder Wells already knows what it means to face challenges that many adults will never experience. His story begins in North Carolina , in 2015, when he was barely 21 months old and was the victim of an unexpected attack that changed his life forever. While visiting his family over Thanksgiving weekend , two large dogs attacked him, leaving profound physical scars.
Against all medical odds, Ryder managed to survive . Since then, his life has been marked by struggle and constant improvement. He has had to undergo more than 50 surgeries to reconstruct part of his face and repair the damage suffered, including a broken arm , severe dental injuries , and a punctured lung . What seemed impossible became a living example of resilience. However, despite having overcome such a traumatic event, what hurts her most today are not the scars, but the stares, comments, and rejections she faces daily from those who don’t understand that true beauty lies beyond the visible.
Brittany , his mother, has shared how even at the park, other children point at Ryder and yell hurtful words. On one occasion, a child called him a “ monster ” before running away. On another occasion, while shopping, an adult loudly expressed their disgust at seeing him. Situations that not only affect the little boy but also break the heart of his mother , who has witnessed the courage with which her son has faced each stage of his recovery.
Despite everything, Ryder maintains a positive attitude . He wears glasses and a cap, sometimes lowering his head to avoid curious glances, but he never stops smiling. His mother encourages him every day by reminding him how important it is to accept himself and be proud of being different. “I tell him he’s handsome, that being different isn’t bad. We’re all unique, and that’s something to be celebrated, not hidden,” says Brittany.
This little boy’s story has served as an inspiration to talk about an often-silenced topic: the impact of bullying and discrimination toward people with visible physical differences . Brittany now seeks to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children—and adults, too—to respect diversity , to look beyond physical appearance, and to act with empathy and compassion . It’s not just about standing up for her son, but about opening a dialogue so that other children like him don’t feel alone, judged, or ashamed for something they didn’t choose. Ryder is not just a survivor; he’s an example of strength, self-love, and what it means to move forward with hope, even when the world sometimes doesn’t know how to look without hurting. Her message is clear: we all deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. And through her story, many are beginning to see that true beauty doesn’t require filters , just a little understanding.
