Hali Dingman, 6, takes a break from riding her bicycle Wednesday afternoon to catch a toad in her bucket.

Hali Dingman, 6, struggled to coax a toad to hop into a bucket Wednesday afternoon outside her Baldwin home.

“I don’t want to pick it up,” she said trying to avoid hand-on-toad contact.

It was a rare Kansas summer day for Hali. Cool temperatures afforded her the opportunity to play outside with friends and participate in some of her favorite activities – such as riding her bike.

Hali was born with ectodermal dysplasia, a genetic disorder that can affect a person’s hair, teeth, nails and glands. Hali’s sweat glands have been affected by the disorder. It’s impossible for her to sweat, making it difficult for her body to cool down when it becomes overheated.

“We sort of become like hermits in the summer,” said Janel Dingman, Hali’s mother. “It’s usually just too hot for Hali to be outside during the day. We have to go out early in the morning or after 8 p.m. at night.”

According to the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia, it’s unknown how many people are affected by the condition. But it’s estimated that seven in 10,000 children will be affected by ectodermal dysplasia syndromes.

Hali Dingman's mother, Janel, helping Hali with her socks, has to closely monitor her daughter during the summer months.

It’s a condition Hali and her family have been dealing with for years. Janel Dingman said Hali was diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasia at just 3 days old.

“When Hali was born, her skin was gray and it was cracked and bleeding in some places,” Janel Dingman said.

At the time, she was living in Tulsa, Okla., where a specialist diagnosed the disorder.

Generally, the condition goes unnoticed until a child’s teeth begin to come in. The condition usually causes children to have just a few teeth. Hali has dentures, but they haven’t been fitted to her mouth.

Hali Dingman, right, who has ectodermal dysplasia, gets a lot of support from her family, including father Jeff Dingman, left, a Baldwin city administrator, 17-month-old sister Hannah and mother Janel, second from right.

“We’re trying to find a dentist to work with her,” Janel Dingman said. “But we haven’t found someone who feels comfortable with it yet.”

Hali also has sparse hair, another indication of ectodermal dysplasia.

But it’s the heat that causes the biggest concern for the Dingmans. When Hali goes out on hot days, spray and water bottles are a must. The Dingmans have worked with the Baldwin school district on a health plan and have been in communication with school bus officials to try and avoid problems.

“We want her to be able to have a normal childhood and do the things kids do,” Janel Dingman said.

She said Hali just needs extra supervision to make sure she doesn’t overheat.

“I just feel like she’s made my life so much better,” Janel Dingman said. “She’s made me a better person.”