ST. PETERS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
A seven year old St. Charles County boy's big brown eyes will touch your soul. But his condition will break your heart.Gage Wickiser has never lived a day without severe pain. He lives life like a little mummy. He has to."He's wrapped from neck to toe," says his mother Julie Smith, pointing to the gauze bandages that cover his body from his neck to his toes.
The disease is called Epidermolysis Bullosa. "It's genetic," Smith says, "and his skin is like paper. it rips like paper, and he blisters spontaneously. On about 90 percent of his body, pretty much, there's no skin."
Gage has a moderate to severe form of EB, so rare only one in 500 thousand people have it.
Gage is wrapped in so much gauze, his mother is able to touch him. She lightly rubs his back and his legs. She is used to the bandages, but she will never get used to the pain.
"She's the mom of all moms," says friend Colleen Cooke.
Things just keep getting worse for Gage and his mom. Three months ago they lost her apartment. They can't afford it anymore.
"When Julie needed a place to live, my door is always open to her," says Cooke.
Cooke opened her home, and now friends hope strangers open their hearts. Co-workers at Salon de Christe where Smith now works have organized a benefit for Gage this weekend.
It will be at 4PM Saturday, February 21 at Kokomo's West 3925 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville.
There is also a fund set up at Region's Bank in Gage Wickiser's name.
Go to www.ebkids.org for more information.
