Libby Huffer, a brave 45-year-old woman, suffers from a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 1. This condition causes non-cancerous growths to appear wherever there are nerves in the body. Unfortunately, Libby’s struggle with this disorder has been incredibly challenging.
Libby has been burdened with over 6,000 tumors all over her body, including her face. The presence of these tumors not only affects her physical appearance but also causes her chronic pain. As if that wasn’t enough, Libby has also endured years of bullying, being called hurtful names like “a toad” and “lizard breath.” It’s unfair that she had to face such cruelty, simply because of her appearance.
The severity of Libby’s condition multiplied when she became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter 23 years ago. The number of tumors increased drastically, reaching thousands. It seemed like there was no end to her suffering.
However, Libby refused to let this condition define her. In 2016, she decided to take matters into her own hands and started a fundraiser. The goal was to raise funds for a groundbreaking surgery called electrodessication, which could remove her tumors and prevent them from growing back. With the support of many kind-hearted individuals, Libby successfully raised the necessary money.
In June of the following year, she underwent the much-anticipated surgery. It was a tremendous success, as around 1,000 tumors were removed from her face and other parts of her body. Although the procedure left her with scars, there was hope yet. Libby embarked on CO2 laser treatments to minimize these scars and continue her healing journey.