Two doctors dismissed the spot on her toddler as a mole — but the mother’s instinct led to a third visit that uncovered a devastating truth
A mother’s gut instinct can make all the difference. Shelby Rupp, a mom, noticed a small spot on her toddler’s face when he was just 2 years old. At first, it looked like a minor mark near the corner of his eye, close to his temple, and doctors initially assured her it was harmless. Two separate visits left her concerns unaddressed, but her persistence led to a third appointment that uncovered a medical discovery, ultimately changing her son’s journey. She shared the story on her TikTok account, @shelbyontiktok, on December 4, 2025, as reported by Newsweek, highlighting how vital it is for parents to trust their instincts.
@shelbyontiktok Always my kids biggest advocate because sometimes doctors don’t know best and that’s ok 🫶🏻 we are all human. #spitzoidmelanomacancer #fyp #cancer #pediatriccancer ♬ original sound - Brighton Peachy
During the first visits, the spot was diagnosed as a Spitz nevus, a type of mole common in children and usually harmless. Shelby was reassured and informed to visit again in case of any drastic changes. “It was dome-shaped and turned colors—red, purple, and skin-colored. It started small, like a pimple or bug bite, and grew larger!” Shelby explained in the TikTok comments. Her concern continued to build, and she insisted on a biopsy despite prior dismissals. “I had to make a third appointment and demand [a] biopsy. I was very pregnant and hormonal and... I was just not going to take no for an answer,” she said. She also expressed how the situation being repeatedly overlooked made her feel, "a little crazy, like maybe I was overreacting," she told the outlet.
In her TikTok video, clips show her young son playing with his newborn sibling and later lying on her lap while she explained the importance of trusting instincts, “When your son is two, you’re going to get a spot checked out on his face and the dermatologist will insist it’s nothing over and over again, it’s very important you force them to get a biopsy, so he can be 9 and cancer-free.”
Within 24 hours of the procedure, the sample was sent to a specialized lab in California, which confirmed the spot was spitzoid melanoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer often mistaken for a harmless lesion in children. The results were then quickly forwarded to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The family received an urgent call from St. Jude and traveled immediately from Missouri. Shelby described the fear and anxiety she felt while trying to process the news. "I was so extremely scared for my baby. We all just cried and cried."
Fortunately, because the melanoma was detected early, Oliver did not require chemotherapy or radiation. Doctors then placed him on a long-term monitoring plan that lasted nearly seven years, with his checkups slowly scheduled further apart over the years. Now 9, Oliver remains cancer-free and visits the hospital only for his scheduled checkups as part of an ongoing study. The final clip in the TikTok video shows young Oliver resting his head calmly on his mother’s lap, a quiet moment of peace after years of challenges. Shelby expressed in the caption that she will always be her "kid's biggest advocate."
For more updates and informative content, follow @shelbyontiktok on TikTok.