Pain can’t stop toddler’s fun
Flynn Brodie is going to have a lot of pain in his life.
The Titahi Bay toddler turns two on May 30 and has already packed in hospital visits and near-death experiences in his short lifetime. He has pachyonychia congenita (PC), a non-contagious skin disorder that affects just him in New Zealand and 1000 people around the world.
PC is caused by a change in one gene and features include painful foot blisters, thick nails, a white film on the tongue and bumpy skin and cysts. There is no cure.
Combined with having haemophilia, the little guy has it tough, but parents Liam and Jo watch on as Flynn tears about like most twoyear-olds would.
Liam says he marvels at his ‘‘dapper kid’’, who adores big sister Isla but is going to find it painful to walk, will never play sport and will likely need a wheelchair when he’s older.
On June 2, at Titahi Bay School from 9.30am till noon, the Brodies are holding a ‘PC Awareness Day’. Funds raised will go towards cure research, with a sponsor matching every dollar donated two to one. There will be a bouncy castle, sausage sizzle, cake stall, lolly scramble, face painting and fire brigade visit.
To donate visit pachyonychia.org.