Brunswick County boy’s art on display for world to see

Will benefit kids who've had similar experience

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) – A Brunswick County boy’s art is on display for the world to see — and will benefit kids who’ve gone through an experience similar to his.

Waylon was diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy, a muscle weakness in his arm and shoulder, as a result of an injury experienced during birth.

“They twisted my arm when they were trying to get me out,” he said. “Once I got older we went to doctors to try to get it fixed.”

In December of 2021, Waylon had surgery and stayed at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad.

He continued to stay there during his many visits to Baptist Children’s Hospital in Winston Salem.

His brother inspired him to draw, a talent only seen by his family.

“Most of my art is very private, and I put my feelings on paper or a canvas,” said Waylon.

Guest service manager Daniel Brown received a self-portrait from him – she encouraged Waylon to keep drawing- which built his confidence.

“She told me about this contest and said, I would love for you, we would all love for you to compete in this contest,” he said.

It was an international competition, where the winner’s art would be placed on a Keurig coffee maker and sold to raise money for families who stay at a Ronald McDonald House.

His mom Wendy Kinlaw, couldn’t be more proud of her son.

“He was selected out of a national campaign, which says a lot from a little 10-year-old from Brunswick County,” she said. “It was quite a shocker when they told us he was a finalist in the competition.”

Waylon said the contest was about having fun, not necessarily about winning, and was happy his art was appreciated by others.

“It was really cool me knowing that I could’ve won,” he said.  “I mean, I was really close to winning.”

Waylon’s drawing – themed — ‘Love Grows’ impressed the judges, his art didn’t make it on the Keurig coffee maker, but was still used to help raise money.

“A tree is just like love, you have to nurture it, that is the watering,” he said. “You know how a tree grows from the roots up, you have to take care of it, you have to nurture it, and so I thought of it, ‘Love grows’.”

“Just like a tree, it spreads seeds, it spreads love.”

His drawing is now on one of four special edition mugs – available for sale until June 12.

Kinlaw still says her son has come a long way.

“Leaps and bounds is what that child has done,” she said. “I think it starts at home.”

Waylon wants everyone to know, that with hard work anything is possible, and when working hard, always find joy in what you do.

“It took me ten years to get this arm finally good and working, now I’m drawing and doing what I want to,” he said.

The proceeds will pay for kids to stay at Ronald McDonald’s houses throughout the country.

To help support the Ronald McDonald House through the ‘More than Just a Cup’ contest click here.