A woman whose face is covered in tumors has slammed cruel trolls who said that she should never have had children after her condition was passed to them.
52-year-old Mercedes Christesen was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (NF) type one, a hereditary condition that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue.
She was 19 when she found out about the condition but only had around four tumors. Doctors said at that time that they were nothing serious but after giving birth to her eldest at the age of 29, she experienced an explosion of growths.
Mercedes, the first person in their family to be diagnosed with the condition, said she did not know that it was genetic when she had her children.
She felt guilty after both of her daughters were diagnosed with neurofibromatosis.
The heartbroken grandmother-of-four claims she was belittled by others who said she should never have had children.
Taking to TikTok, Mercedes has hit back at cruel trolls and said: “I used to have gorgeous skin other than zits. The tumors started popping out rapidly after giving birth, which is normal because any hormonal change can cause tumors.”
She continued: “I hid like most people with it do. I used to cover my face with my hair, look down and I wouldn’t go out unless it was to work.”
After her children were diagnosed, she tried to go out more often so that her daughters would not feel embarrassed.
“I changed my outlook, I didn’t want them to be self-conscious about what they looked like. I felt horrible that I’d passed it onto them. I was never told that there was a chance I would pass it on,” she expressed.
“About a dozen people have asked me why I’ve had kids. It hurts. It makes me p*ssed, it’s none of their business,” she said.
“Would they say that to someone who has diabetes or carries the breast cancer gene or someone with Down Syndrome? I tend not to react but you can only take so much before you call someone out so nobody else does it,” Mercedes added.
The mother has been married to her husband Rodney, 58, for 14 years. She says he always makes her feel beautiful ‘even with the tumors.’
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