Woman who’s legs won’t stop growing seeks treatment in US
November 30, 2008
England (ChattahBox) — Cheerful 33-year-old Mandy Sellars of Lancashire, England, don’t know why her legs keep growing and doctors don’t know either. When Mandy was born doctors gave her a week to live. Her left leg was three inches longer than her right, and both were out of proportion. No one knew what her condition was or how to treat it. Despite the odds, Mandy proved everyone wrong and at 18 months she began walking. It’s not easy being Mandy Sellars though. She has hugely outsized legs that make having a normal life nearly impossible. Mandy’s legs are wider than the average man’s waist and heavier than most women.
People stare whenever she leaves the house, she needs a special car to get around and can’t work full time. Mandy has described her difficulties for managing her routine works as she stays alone in the house. She told that if a normal human being completes a task in 30 minutes then she would require minimum one hour for completing the same task. She said that she has to plan everything earlier as she has to make proper preparations for doing the simplest job. Despite all the challenges she graduated from Central Lancashire University.
Because her condition remained such a mystery, she often seems to be on the edge of disaster. In college, she was once suddenly paralyzed because of a blood clot that required 10 weeks of hospitalization. When a plastic surgeon tried liposuction to reduce the bulk in her legs, more tissue grew back than had been removed.
Now doctors say her condition is getting worse and doctors say she needs an amputation so severe she won’t be able to sit up. She has never had a firm diagnosis, but it could be linked to Proteus syndrome, which causes abnormal skin and limb growth. John Merrick, the Elephant Man, is believed to have had it. A production company had contacted Mandy about making a documentary on her life. They offered to take her to meet some experts in United States so that she can get relief from her sufferings. Mandy accepted the offer and met specialists who had worked together for curing many challenging cases. She has gained hopes after meeting them and hopes now that she might not require amputation.
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I watched a special about Mandy on TLC the other night and have not been able to get her off my mind. I keep thinking about her- a real person out there struggling day after day. The day after I watched the show I was so aware of how much I take for granted. I felt very inspired by Mandy and a deep admiration and compassion was roused within me. I also wondered how her experience has affected her thoughts and beliefs about God. I don’t know how to get in touch with Mandy but if there is any way that I can I would love to chat with her and hear her insights about life and Jesus through her unique experience. Kristy