A baby boy born without the top layer of his skin has defied odds to survive.
Kaiden Jake Shattock, now sixth months old, was born with an undiagnosed condition that meant he was born with only 2 percent of his skin - just enough to cover his face.
Jessica Kibbler and Jake Shattock, who were 19 when they had their baby, said Kaiden was in so much pain that even the nurses couldn't stop themselves from crying.
Kaiden, whose hearing is also impaired, was born 30 weeks into the pregnancy and while Jessica had had some complications while carrying him, there had been no indication of his condition.
The parents, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, both now 20, described Kaiden as "red raw, like a piece of uncooked meat" when they first saw him nine hours after he was delivered.
"When the nurses took us into the room to introduce us to Kaiden for the first time, he was red raw, like a piece of uncooked meat," Jessica said.
"There we were, two 19-year-old new parents, with no experience of raising children, and our first was born very weak and very ill.
"Everyone was silent, and everyone was distressed and upset.
"Jake and I cried, but even the nurses left the room and cried their eyes out because they didn't know what to say to use and didn't know how else to help him."
Kaiden was so fragile he couldn't be held for ten days and even than he had to be wrapped in a mattress before being picked up.
Being born with skin on his face only, he couldn't wear any clothes.
He was miraculously able to grow some skin after six weeks, although it is so thin and fragile that it's easily prone to tearing and scabbing.
The toddler has since battled necrotising enterocolitis, congential herpes, dermolysis, and bronchiolitis thanks to his lack of skin and premature birth.
Although doctors warned the parents it was unlikely the baby would make it through, Jessica and Jake said they will do anything in their means to help their son.
Jessica suffered with hydronephrosis - a kidney complication - during her pregnancy, and "almost lived" at the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire.
She suffered bleeding and a broken amniotic sac nearly three months before Kaiden's due date, and went into an early labour. There had been no sign, however, that her son would be born with something akin to a "full body burn".
The young mum said after spending six weeks in intensive care and being unable to return home until he was 11 weeks, Kaiden now weighs 9lb 7oz and is "very happy".
"He's so perceptive - he's really starting to take everything in," she said.
She said despite his ear impairment, "he's got the loveliest smile and the prettiest laugh, if you get him going.
"We managed to pull him through - and we're so happy. We don't know how long this will affect him, or if this is lifelong but we're there to look after him and to love him no matter.
"Now he's very happy, and so much better after all the treatment he's had."
Doctors originally speculated his skin condition was caused by a sepsis-congential herpes combination, but have since ruled that out and tested for countless skin disorders.
Kaiden's case is now being examined by specialists abroad.
