Similar
to her mother, Libby Huffer, aged 45, grapples with neurofibromatosis type 1, a
genetic condition characterized by non-cancerous growths that develop wherever
nerves exist.
Regrettably,
this condition has resulted in Libby having over 6,000 tumors on her body,
subjecting her to bullying. Over the years, Libby has endured derogatory names,
including being labeled "a toad" and "lizard breath."
Her
condition deteriorated further when she became pregnant and gave birth to her
daughter 23 years ago, causing the number of tumors to multiply into thousands.
Caters
News Agency
Libby's
tumors afflict every part of her body, including her face, exacerbating not
only her appearance but also causing her chronic pain.
Struggling
to come to terms with her condition and its impact on her appearance, Libby
initiated a fundraiser in 2016 to finance electrodessication surgery. This
pioneering procedure aims to remove the tumors and prevent their regrowth.
Caters
News Agency
Fortunately,
she successfully raised the necessary funds, and in the following year,
underwent the long-awaited surgery in June. The procedure enabled her to
eliminate approximately 1,000 tumors from her face and other areas of her body.
While the surgery was a success, it resulted in numerous scars that
necessitated CO2 laser treatment.
She
expressed, "There's still a significant journey ahead to heal the
emotional wounds I've endured over the years, but I'm confident that it will
gradually improve with time."
Libby
expressed her belief that undergoing more surgeries will enhance her
confidence, aiding in the alleviation of some of the painful memories from her
childhood.
Caters
News Agency
"Nowadays,
I don't have as many prominent tumors on my face, and I feel like my confidence
has increased since the surgery."
"I've
noticed a reduction in people staring at me now. Occasionally, I still catch
kids looking, but there's definitely been a significant improvement."
Reflecting
on the pain and bullying she has endured, Libby shared, "I've faced
bullying and victimization my entire life because of the bumps covering my
skin, which extend from head to toe."
"In
school, kids would constantly pick on me, calling me names like 'lizard breath'
and 'toad'."
Caters
News Agency
When
she sought to raise funds for her surgery, Libby shared her struggles and
appealed to people to assist her in regaining a sense of normalcy.
She
mentioned, "The tumors on my back result in chronic pain, and I constantly
experience tingling sensations in my feet due to nerve issues, making it
difficult to sleep."
"Even
simple actions like receiving a hug or feeling water from the shower hit them
in a certain manner can cause them pain," she explained.
"But
I'm human too; all I desire is to be loved and cared for like anyone
else," she expressed.
"I
wish instead of making comments, people would engage in conversation with me
rather than stare as if I'm a circus attraction. It just makes me feel
incredibly uncomfortable," she expressed.
The
life-changing surgery, which amounted to $23,500, freed her from the stares and
taunts of others for the first time in three decades.
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