Morocco mother disowned by husband after facial tumours ravaged her looks


  • Samira Benhar, 39, suffers from rare genetic condition neurofibromatosis
  • Caused huge tumours to grow over her face, covering her right eye
  • Was flown from Morocco to Spain for a year of reconstructive surgery
  • Broke down in tears unveiling the results as she now has a ‘new life’

Madlen Davies for MailOnline

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A mother left disfigured by huge tumours that grew over her face says she feels ‘born again’ thanks to reconstructive surgery.

Samira Benhar, 39, suffered from neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which causes uncontrollable growths along the nerves. 

It left her with huge drooping tumours on the right side of her face – entirely covering her eye.

In her home city of Casablanca, Morocco, her appearance made her an outcast and she was heartbroken after being rejected by her husband.

But after drastic surgery in Spain to cut off the extra flesh and rebuild her face, she is now excited to be starting a new life. 

Samira Benhar, 39, suffered from neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which caused huge tumours to grow over half her face (left). After reconstructive surgery to cut off the growths and give her a prosthetic eye she says she feels as though she has been ‘born again’ and is excited to begin a new life (right)

Ms Benhar, who has two children aged 9 and 12, was ostracized in her home city of Casablanca due to her looks. She was left heartbroken when her husband also left her

Ms Benhar, who cried with happiness at a press conference about her surgery, said she was ‘badly damaged’ both physically and psychological by neurofibramatosis

A mother to two children, aged 9 and 12, she suffered social rejection and had been abandoned by her husband, the Spanish website 20 minutos reports.

But her fate unexpectedly changed one day while sitting in a park, with her head in her hands.

Ms Benhar said: ‘A woman approached me and talked to me. 

‘When she saw my face she asked for a photo. I didn’t have one so we went to a shop.

‘Later she said to me, “I am not promising you anything, but I am going to do my best to help you”.’

The woman was working for the Adra Foundation, a religious organisation which was running a health project in Morocco at the time. 

The woman took Ms Benhar’s case to Dr Pedro Cavadas, a world-renowned surgeon in reconstructive surgery and implants. He is based at Manises Hospital, Valencia.

Dr Cavadas confirmed he could help – and promised surgery could vastly improve her appearance. 

He said: ‘This is a genetic illness, rare but not so infrequent.

‘Treatment consists in trying to make the face symmetrical. Fortunately the tumours are benign.’

Ms Benhar was flown out to Valencia and had three operations to remove the tumour, rebuild her face, and have a prosthetic eye put in. 

During a press conference unveiling the results of surgery, Ms Benhar broke down in tears. She is pictured with surgeon Dr Pedro Cavadas, who works at the Manises Hospital, Valencia

During a press conference where the results of the surgery were unveiled, Ms Benhar broke down in tears as she thanked the team at the hospital for giving her a ‘new life’.

She said: ‘Today I am very happy, I will never forget everything they have done for me.’

Now, she is on the way home to see her children for the first time in over a year – as the treatment has taken this long.

The Adra Foundation, which funded her treatment, will also help to find her a house and a job so she can look after her family.

NEUROFIBROMATOSIS: THE ‘ELEPHANT MAN’ CONDITION 

Neurofibromatosis the name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps. Ms Benhar is pictured following surgery to remove the tumours on her face

Neurofibromatosis the name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps.

Although many people who have the condition inherit it from one of their parents, up to 50 per cent develop it randomly from a gene mutation before they are born.

There are two types of neurofibromatosis and this man is suffering from type one, Dr Anand Saggar, a London-based genetics expert, told MailOnline.

Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings – called neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells – are not cancerous or contagious.

The condition has long been associated with the ‘Elephant Man,’ the name given to Joseph Carey Merrick, who was severely disfigured.

However, in 1986, a new theory emerged that Mr Merrick may actually have had Proteus syndrome, a condition which involves symptoms such as abnormal growth of the bones, skin and head.

The confusion was again compounded in 2001 when it was proposed that he had suffered from a combination of neurofibromatosis type one (NF1) and Proteus syndrome.

However, DNA tests on his hair and bones have proven inconclusive.

Other symptoms of neurofibromatosis type one include flat, light brown spots on the skin.

These harmless marks, also called cafe au lait spots, are common in many people. People who have more than six spots that are bigger than half a centimetre wide should get investigated for NF1.

NF1 is a condition someone is born with, although some symptoms develop gradually over many years. The severity of the condition can vary considerably from person to person.

People with NH1 are more likely to suffer from learning difficulties and behavioural problems, a type of cancer known as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours, which affect around 10 per cent of people with NF1 over their lifetime, vision problems, high blood pressure and a curved spine. 

 

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