Mulher de Trindade e Tobago passa por cirurgia de 60 horas para remover tumores raros de neurofibromatose NF-1.

secure woman from Trinidad and Tobago, a country located in the Caribbean Sea, is living with a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis NF-1, also known as von Recklinghausen’s disease, which can cause the formation of benign tumors. After a 60-hour surgery, the “lumps,” resembling bubbles, were removed from various parts of Charmaine Sahadeo’s body, such as her face, arms, and legs.

Neurofibromatosis affects at least one in every 4,650 people, according to a study conducted in the United Kingdom. However, according to Dr. Ryan Osborne, the surgical oncologist and director of the Osborne Head and Neck Institute in Los Angeles, the case of Charmaine is the most severe he has ever seen.

“She has an unusual presentation of neurofibromatosis. It’s literally everywhere. I personally have never seen a patient clinically, and I have never seen one in a book, as severe as Charmaine’s. She seems unique to me,” he said in an interview with the American television show “Take My Tumor.”

The main obstacle faced by the medical team responsible for Charmaine was finding a vein to anesthetize because much of her skin was covered with tumors. As a result, they couldn’t perform general anesthesia before the operation.

Instead, she received local anesthesia in certain areas and had to remain completely awake for 13 hours. Thus, over 10 weeks, 24 surgeries were performed, totaling approximately 60 hours.

Charmaine recounts that the symptoms began to spread when she was 13, but they worsened when she became pregnant with her first child, Osiris. The pregnancy caused her body to be completely covered by tumors.

Walking became difficult for her due to a large mass in her leg. She also started to have breathing problems because some of the lumps covered part of her nose. Dealing with other people made everything even more challenging for her.

Dealing with neurofibromatosis is an ongoing battle for Charmaine, as the condition is of familial origin, with her mother also being diagnosed with it. Currently, she is doing well with a new lease on life after the surgeries.

“The life is 100 percent better for me now. I love my appearance now,” she says, a mother of two children.

In a world where appearances can sometimes lead to harsh judgment and negativity, Charmaine’s story serves as an inspiration of resilience and overcoming obstacles. The unwavering spirit she has shown throughout her journey is a testament to the human capacity for strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.