A California teen diagnosed with a rare and deadly skin disorder was pictured beaming with joy as she was crowned homecoming queen at an Orange County high school.
Riley McCoy, a 17-year-old who suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum, otherwise known as XP, is unable to go outdoors or sit near open windows during the daytime as her condition leaves her extremely sensitive to any amount of sunlight.
If exposed, Riley is left with severe burns that result in irreversible UV damage to her skin.
The girl who can’t go out in the sun, Riley McCoy, is voted homecoming queen by her senior class
Riley has a very rare disorder, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), which makes its victims incredibly sensitive to the sun
If exposed, Riley is left with severe burns that result in irreversible UV damage to her skin
Riley McCoy has her crown placed by last year’s homecoming king Jimmy Quick during halftime of the Dana Hills High School football game
The well-liked high school senior strives to live each day to the fullest after she was informed her condition kills most people diagnosed in their early 20’s.
Because her symptoms were detected as an infant, doctors say she could live to see 50, according to OCR.
The evening of Friday, September 15 was one to remember for McCoy, who was surrounded by family, friends and doctors who watched in awe of her smiling as she received her tiara and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ sounded over the stadium speakers.
‘This is my night,’ Riley said as she walked down the field, leaving her loved ones unable to hold back tears.
Because her symptoms were detected as an infant, doctors say she could live to see 50, according to OCR
She was diagnosed at the early age of just six days old, after her parents found severe burns on her body from the sun
‘It was like a fairy tale,’ the teen’s proud mother, Pam McCoy told the Tennessean.
Riley’s close friend and Dana Hills High alum, Jimmy Quick, made a special trip home from college to see the special event.
‘She was fearless. I was crying, everyone was crying. The song, the fireworks – it was the perfect moment. It was a precious night,’ Jimmy, now a freshman at Belmont University said.
‘Love was in the air. Everyone was so happy for her. And she just kept hugging Jimmy,’ Riley’s mom added.
Riley, who’s received an overwhelming amount of support from fellow students at Dana Hills, has had nothing but a positive high school experience.
Riley’s mom Pam said her daughter has had an extremely positive high school experience
‘It’s insane,’ her mom, Pam said. ‘They love her, they root for her, they want her to succeed and feel normal’
Riley was diagnosed with the ‘D’ strain of the disorder, which leaves her with neurological degeneration, according to OCR
‘It’s insane,’ her mom, Pam said. ‘They love her, they root for her, they want her to succeed and feel normal.’
Riley was diagnosed with XP at the early age of six days old after her parents noticed severe burns covering her body after being outside.
Even worse, Riley was diagnosed with the ‘D’ strain of the disorder, which leaves her with neurological degeneration, according to OCR.
‘There are about 300 Americans currently living with XP, and the chances of being born in this country with the disease are 1 in a million. There are fewer than 100 living with XPD,’ the report said.