A 44-year-old woman has revealed how her rare skin condition that has plagued her for more than three decades has left her with almost 6000 tumours on her body.

Libby Huffer from Fort Wayne in Indiana was diagnosed with the condition known as neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)when she was just 5 years old and currently on thirteen different prescriptions to help her cope with the pains that come with it.

The first outbreak led to her being severely bullied – with people thinking she was contagious and cruelly labelling her ‘Lizard Breath’.

NF affects every 1 in 2,500 individuals with no regard to race or gender and anyone can be born with it. Each birth of a child that has a parent affected by NF has a 50/50% chance of passing it on to their kids.

She said: Luckily, I did not pass it onto my only child. For this, I am very thankful because having NF has been very difficult. 


NF causes chronic pain, fatigue, disfigurement, depression, scoliosis, orthopaedic issues, motor delays, discrimination, high blood pressure, cancer, bone deformities, ADHD, loss of balance, dural ectasia, paralysis, complete or partial hearing and vision loss and learning disabilities, neuropathy, and death.


She said: The last time that I can remember “comfortably” wearing a bathing suit was when I was 16 years old. During the summer months, I am always covered up in long sleeves & pants or cargo shorts because of the looks that I get from people out in public. 


“I am often socially isolated and I feel rejected by my peers.  I haven’t dated for many years. I know that this is because of my looks and it makes me so very sad.”


She says she believes someday she would be able to socialise with people without having to worry about how she looks and not take cognizance of the constant pains the disease has brought on her.

Libby has started raising money for pioneering electrodessication surgery that will use an electric current to kill the neurofibroma tissue in her body.

Though there is no cure for neurofibroma, the results have been extremely satisfying for people who underwent electrodessication to treat neurofibroma tissues.


The five-hour session costs almost $23,500 and could allow her a pain-free life without the stares and taunts from people for the first time in three decades

She added: ‘My life would change so much if I had the surgery. I’m not contagious, I’m a human being too, all I want is to be adored and cared for like anyone else.’

http://www.humantherapyhub.com/2016/11/Womans-Body-Covered-with-6000-Tumours.html?m=1

Lalasticlala
seun

Hmmm, over 3 decades in constant pain, something i would not wish for anyone not even my enemy. I saw a man with this condition some weeks back and i was amazed at the sight of the huge tumours popping on his face.

God i thank you for my life.

PRISTINEMUSCLES:
Hmmm, over 3 decades in constant pain, something i would not wish for anyone not even my enemy. I saw a man with this condition some weeks back and i was amazed at the sight of the huge tumours popping on his face.

God i thank you for my life.

Health is truly wealth. It's unimaginable to live such condition that is really no fault of her. Wait a minute, what's the name of the MOD in the Health section.

We don't get the same attention given to other section here on nairaland

Seun