This story is a sobering reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the long road society has to travel toward kindness and acceptance. It is about a little boy who endured a devastating attack by two Rottweilers and survived, only to face cruel judgment from others due to his disfigured appearance.
Ryder Wells was just 21 months old when the unthinkable happened. During Thanksgiving of 2015, Ryder and his mother, Brittany, were visiting family friends. Brittany recounted the horrific incident:
“We were eating breakfast, and Ryder was moving back and forth between his toys and coming back for bacon. Then, he disappeared. I looked out of the window, and he was face down in the garden.”
She continued, “He had pajamas on, but they’d been completely ripped off except for a sleeve. When we picked him up and rolled him over, his face was just gone.
“The dogs had been around him before, and they’d been fine, so I don’t know what happened. The doctors said they would do what they could, but we weren’t expecting him to make it. They told us it’s a miracle he’s still here because he was so small, and the injuries were so severe. They thought the dogs had bitten so far into his skull that he would be paralyzed.”
Ryder’s injuries were catastrophic: he lost his entire right cheek, more than half of his lip, his teeth were crushed, his right lung was punctured, and his arm was broken. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he underwent over 14 hours of surgery. For Brittany, it was an unimaginable ordeal filled with anxiety and uncertainty.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Ryder’s spirit proved unbreakable. He survived the surgeries but was left with a permanently disfigured face. Over the years, he has undergone more than 50 facial reconstruction surgeries, with more to come in the future.
However, Ryder’s battle is not just physical. He faces the harsh reality of societal judgment. Brittany shared:
“He knows people are talking about him, but he doesn’t say much. He wears glasses and a cap and sometimes hangs his head to hide his face. I try to deal with it in a way that doesn’t affect him too much. I tell him every day that he’s beautiful, that different is beautiful, and it’s okay to be different.
“But I’m absolutely terrified about when he goes to school. There are always going to be a few kids who aren’t kind. When he started kindergarten, the kids learned about Ryder before they met him so they wouldn’t be as shocked. You always want your kid to be accepted and to fit in. Just because he’s different doesn’t make him any less of a person.”
Despite the challenges, Ryder has found a supportive community. Brittany expressed gratitude for the kindness they’ve encountered:
“He has a great group of friends, and people in town know him now, which boosts his confidence. He’s been amazing in how he’s adapted after everything he’s been through.”
Now five years old, Ryder’s journey is far from over. His family has started a GoFundMe campaign to support his future surgeries and treatments. Ryder’s story is a testament to his incredible resilience and a call for greater kindness and empathy in the world. We wish Ryder a life filled with love, acceptance, and opportunities to thrive despite the challenges he has faced.
John Amos, best known as the father on “Good Times” and a star of “Roots,” has passed away at the age of 84.
John Amos, the talented television actor recognized for his performances in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, The West Wing, and Roots, has passed away at the age of 84.
His family shared that Amos died of natural causes in his Los Angeles home on August 21, but the announcement was only made public today.
“With deep sadness, I announce that my father has transitioned,” his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, said in a statement to Deadline. “He was a man with an incredibly kind heart and a golden spirit… loved by people everywhere. Many fans regarded him as their TV father.”
Born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos initially pursued a career in football, playing in the Continental Football League and the Atlantic Coast Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos in 1964 but was released before the season due to an injury.
His acting career, however, proved more successful. He gained recognition as weatherman Gordy Howard on the popular sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a role he held from 1970 to 1973.
Amos is best remembered for his portrayal of James Evans, the father in the classic sitcom Good Times. At just 34 years old when he was cast, he convincingly depicted a hardworking father of three living in a low-income housing project.
The show was lauded for its exploration of significant issues like poverty and racism. However, as the series progressed, Amos had disagreements with the writers and producers regarding the portrayal of Black families and the show’s shift toward broader comedic themes. After season 3, he was let go, and his character met his end in a car accident.
Shortly thereafter, Amos took on another defining role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
He is also known for his role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the political drama The West Wing. Additionally, he had recurring roles in Two and a Half Men and The Ranch.
Among his notable film credits are Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Die Hard 2, Coming to America, and its sequel.
“He led a fulfilling life, and his legacy will endure through his remarkable contributions to television and film,” his son expressed in the statement. “My father cherished his work as an actor throughout his life.”
“He was my father, my closest friend, and my hero. I appreciate your prayers and support during this difficult time.”
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