Young woman suffers from rare condition where one leg is THREE TIMES the size of the other… and won’t stop growing despite 60 OPERATIONS
The 25-year-old has had 20 near-death experiences... and is still a virgin because of scarring down below
THIS student has a bulging left leg which is THREE TIMES the size of her healthy one, and won't stop growing - despite her having 60 operations.
Arianna Faro’s leg, foot and buttock are all hugely swollen – while she also has 150 growths on her vagina and lower body, some as big as a penny.
The psychology student, who hopes to train as a therapist and treat people with obsessive compulsive disorder and depression, says she is still a virgin because of the illness – which has scarred her private parts.
The 25-year-old suffers from the ultra-rare Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, and has already had 60 bouts of ‘barbaric’ surgery and 20 ‘near-death experiences’, as well as being admitted to hospital 120 times.
The condition, which affects the development of blood vessels, soft tissues, and bones, has three characteristic features: a red birthmark called a port-wine stain, abnormal overgrowth of soft tissues and bones, and vein malformations.
Arianna said: “As I grow my already swollen limbs grow – they get bigger with me.
“But these things are sent to test us. I have struggled in the past but I know I am strong and brave.
"From the waist up I look like your typical 25-year-old girl – but from the lower back down it's something different.
"I can never recall a time in which I was not sick or in a momentous amount of pain.
"Having been born into this lifestyle, I was always privy to experiencing intense bouts of sickness, relentless pain, constant hospitalisation, frequent surgeries and tiresome recoveries.
"Despite these unrelenting obstacles, though, I had the best childhood which a girl could have ever asked for."
Arianna is currently dating a man who knows about her condition, and said she is taking things slowly.
Despite her painful daily battle, Arianna says she knows she is beautiful.
She added: "Different is beautiful. Bravery is beautiful. I want people to know that."
Arianna is slowly losing her mobility and is now wheelchair-bound, but continues to try to inspire others on her Facebook and Instagram pages One Limp at a Time.
She even shows candid pictures of her distorted limbs.
Arianna added: "I know some people will find them shocking, but it's the reality of the illness and I have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about.
"This is what I have to live with, so I see no reason not to publish pictures of it and inspire people."
Speaking about her illness Arianna, who was diagnosed the day she was born, explained that all sufferers are affected differently.
Generally though, they struggle to drain fluid from their limbs, causing uncomfortable swelling.
Other side effects include the development of varicose veins as well as lumps of fatty tissue spreading all over the body.
A common misconception is that the condition is confined to Arianna’s legs, when in fact it impacts her feet, buttocks, genital area and back as well.
She often endures blood clots and gruesome bouts of sepsis and cellulitis – an infection of the skin tissue, which is accompanied by a severe fever and flu-like symptoms.
The condition is not genetic and Arianna has two healthy sisters – Danielle, 28, and Alyssa, 19.
The cause of the illness is not known and doctors continue to search for a cure, but Arianna accepts it as ‘just something that happened’ to her.
Arianna said: "My mum, Cheryl, was really healthy during her pregnancy. She didn't do anything, but still felt guilty because I was ill.
"But she had no reason to. I didn't want her to feel like that."
Arianna, who believes 'no-one should ever feel ashamed' of their physical ailments, is often struck down by sudden bacterial infections.
Because the syndrome is so rare, she is determined to speak up and raise awareness of her condition.
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Arianna said: "I've probably had about 20 near-death experiences.
"But despite this I power on and am engaged in life and my learning. I refuse to be defined by my condition.
"Sure, my anomalies are a part of me, but they hardly equate to me as a whole.
"When people think of me, I want them to think of me as a person who is uplifting, and hopefully I can inspire others to be confident in their own skin no matter how different they may look or feel."