A toddler with an ultra-rare form of dwarfism which affects less than 100 kids globally just can’t get enough of Elton John.
Five-year-old Rayland Camp of Pace, Florida, is just 25 inches tall, weighs 17lbs 11oz and fits into baby clothes meant for children aged three months old.
The truly tiny dancer has rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, a rare and incurable type of dwarfism which causes seizures, skeletal abnormalities and shortening of the bones.
Beautiful boy: Little Rayland Camp of Pace, Florida, who was born with a rare form of dwarfism, is Elton John’s biggest fan
Cool guy: The five-year-old was born with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, which affects less than 100 children around the world
The condition means Rayland is unable to talk apart from the word ‘mama’ and cannot walk or point, so communicates using a range of different laughs and cries.
The adorable youngster also has reduced hearing, but despite the life-limiting symptoms his mom Brittney Camp, 30, says he absolutely loves listening to music.
She blares out records every day and first realized that Rayland’s favorite artist was Elton John when she played Benny and the Jets and he erupted into laughter.
Now every time the megastar’s music plays, Rayland will wiggle his fingers and break into a huge grin – a precious reaction that melts his mom’s heart.
Mom-of-two Brittney said: ‘One day I was just letting a load of songs play through and then Benny and the Jets by Elton John came on.
Newest fan: Rayland’s mom Brittney says she discovered he was a huge Elton John fan after putting on a playlist and seeing his reaction to Benny and the Jets
Loving mom: Brittney claims that the little boy started giggling and laughing to the music
‘Straight away Rayland started giggling and laughing. He was kicking his feet and playing with his fingers and I was like, “Oh my gosh” – I had never seen him like that.
‘That was when he was about three years old. Now whenever I put Benny and the Jets on he will just start giggling, which is so sweet.’
She added: ‘We are definitely learning his way of communicating and he’s managed to show us that he loves music.
‘He likes listening to all sorts. Sometimes it’s country music, sometimes it’s Disney songs and sometimes it’s classic rock.
‘He doesn’t really care for songs that are slow paced and there are pitches that hurt his hears, so when he hears those he will cry.
Into the world: Ryland (pictured as a newborn) suffers from seizures, skeletal abnormalities and shortening of the bones as a result of his condition
Big smiles: But when Elton comes over the speakers, the little boy can’t help but giggle and smile broadly
‘It’s hard to know what level of understanding he has but I know for sure that he loves Elton John.
‘When I realized that I was like, ‘This kid has a great taste in music.”
She added: ‘He is most definitely the biggest little Elton John fan in the world.’
When Rayland was born via C-section at 36 weeks, doctors noticed his limbs were short and he couldn’t move his legs, which were crossed.
He was rushed into intensive care but baffled doctors were unable to diagnose him with RCDP until he was two weeks old.
Brittney, a single mom, said: ‘They had never seen anything like it and they didn’t know much about it. All they could tell me was that it was terminal.
Mom and her boy: Mom-of-two Brittney has described her son as ‘the biggest little Elton John fan in the world’
Sweet smiles: Rayland’s condition means his growth is slow, and he is still regularly mistaken for a newborn
Other home: Rayland spends a lot of his time at hospital appointments
‘I really didn’t know what to do at first. I was totally overwhelmed and in shock.
‘Before I left the hospital with him I said to a doctor, ‘Am I going to have to bury my child?’ and all he could tell me was, ‘I don’t know.’ It was really hard.’
Kids with RCDP are considered ‘long-term survivors’ if they make it past the age of five, Brittney said, and Rayland turned five in September.
He has doubled in size since birth and continues to grow but very gradually, meaning people often mistake him for a newborn.
He spends a lot of time at hospital appointments, relies on three types of medication to keep his seizures under control and his adrenal gland doesn’t work.
Tuckered out: It took doctors two weeks to diagnose Rayland because the form of dwarfism is so rare
Most of his time: Children like Rayland are considered ‘long-term survivors’ if they make it past the age of five
Brothers: Rayland is seen with his seven-year-old older brother Pistol during one of his many hospital visits
But despite relying on a feeding tube and needing round-the-clock care, doting mom Brittney, who also has a seven-year-old son called Pistol, says Rayland is thriving.
She said: ‘When he was born it was very hard to accept that he was never going to do certain things like go to school, take his first steps or run around playing.
‘That was tough. The best way I can describe it is that it was like grieving for somebody that was still there. It took a while for me to come to terms with that.
‘But the fact that he responds to things like music – and particularly Elton John – in the way he does is a breath of fresh air for me.
‘It means I will always be able to interact with him through music and dance around with him and so, even if it’s just for a little bit, we can be normal.
‘Even if it’s just for an hour a day, it is a special thing that I can share with him.’