Samira Benhar, a woman whose face was left disfigured by huge tumors, feels she was “born again” after undergoing reconstructive surgery, reports The Daily Mail UK.
Suffering from a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis that causes uncontrollable growths along the nerves, Samira has become an outcast in Casablanca, Morocco due to her appearance. To make matters worse, her husband had disowned her for her looks.
But one day, while sitting at a park with her head in her hands, Samira’s fate unexpectedly changed after a woman approached her. The woman, who was working for the Adra Foundation, asked for her photo. At that time she didn’t have, so they decided to go to a shop to have her photo taken.
“I am not promising you anything, but I am going to do my best to help you,” the woman told her.
Samira’s case was referred by the woman to Dr. Pedro Cavadas, a world-renowned surgeon specializing in reconstructive surgery and implants.
Dr. Cavadas explained that a surgery could greatly improve Samira’s appearance.
“Treatment consists in trying to make the face symmetrical. Fortunately the tumours are benign,” he said.
Samira was flown out to Manises Hospital in Valencia where she received three operations that will remove the tumors, rebuild her face and put a prosthetic eye on her. The treatment has taken over a year and Samira is on her way home to see her children for the first time since the surgeries.
“Today I am very happy, I will never forget everything they have done for me,” Samira said in a press conference.
Aside from funding her treatment, the Adra Foundation will help her find a house and job so she can look after her two kids, aged 9 and 12.
Also known as the “elephant man” condition, neurofibromatosis refers to a number of genetic conditions that cause lumps or swellings.