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A mum is appealing for birthday cards for her son who is battling a harrowing skin condition which has left him feeling like he's "had enough of life".

Tanya Williams is pleading for help to save her son, Rhys, who is losing hope having suffered a rare life-limiting and agonising skin condition since he was born .

At birth his carers, mum Tanya and dad, Mark, 48, had no idea whether he would ever reach his teenage years.

The youngster is now 13-years-old, but he is confined to a wheelchair because of severe epidermolysis bullosa, which results in painful skin blisters, sores and has even caused his fingers to fuse together.

(Image: Bolton News / SWNS)

Rhys, from Bolton , says he wishes "a butterfly would come and take him away" and his devastated mum is desperate to show him he has something to fight for.

Tanya said: "The last few months, he's had enough of life.

"He's had enough of being in pain with the sores. He just wants to give up, he doesn't want to fight anymore. What do you do as a mum?"

Ahead of his 14th birthday on September 21, his 36-year-old mum is asking for cards to be sent Rhys' way in the hopes of showing him that people care.

She added: "He's such a happy boy most of the time but recently it's a struggle to try and get through to him. I don't think he can fight much longer, his life depends on this.

"Rhys' life revolves around school, Xbox , sleep, repeat. He doesn't want to go out because he doesn't like the way people look at him.

"I don't want him to be in pain anymore but I still want him to be here."

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is a rare inherited skin disorder.

The skin of those who have DEB is more fragile than normal. Minor injury causes blisters which often leave scars when they heal.

DEB is not an infection, it is not contagious and it is not due to an allergy.

There is currently no cure and treatment focuses on tackling the symptoms, providing pain relief, and preventing infection.

It is caused by faulty genes which produce collagen, a strong protein in the fibres that holds the skin together.

The condition causes Rhys' skin and internal tissue to blister at the slightest knock or rub, leaving him with painful open wounds.

He is now reliant on a wheelchair as he is unable to straighten his legs due to the fusing of the skin at the back of his knees.

His frail body is covered in bandages, which have to be changed three times a day to prevent him from developing any deadly infections.

Tanya said: 'His condition causes his skin to fall off or blister at the slightest touch. His fingers have webbed and his hands fused."

His pain is so severe that he even had to take morphine to try and control it while his family are unable to hug him.

(Image: Bolton News / SWNS)

He is unable to play outside with friends, go on holidays , attend birthday parties and even go shopping in public with his family.

He also has to be fed through a tube as eating solid food can cause his gullet to blister.

The family have done similar appeals before, gathering Christmas cards from Bolton residents to decorate the house and cheer up Rhys.

Last time he was treated to hundreds of festive wishes and loved getting each one in the post.

Tanya said: "Every single card he received, he opened them with so much joy.

"He came home from school and he would see these Christmas cards.

"He got hundreds at a time.

"It showed him that he still needs to fight, that there's people out there who do care and do love him.

"Hopefully it can make him see that not everything is bad."

Cards can be sent to Rhys at 40 Whalley Avenue, Bolton, BL1 5UD