Жінка втратила ніс через рідкісну хворобу, спричинену укусом собаки: її історія — фото

A woman who survived a rare form of vasculitis is now helping other patients and urging more open discussion about the little-known illness.

Jane Hardman, 56, from the UK, has been living with a nasal prosthesis for many years after a rare autoimmune condition destroyed the tissues of her face.

The woman is convinced that although a head bump from her pet dog did not cause the illness, it was instrumental in helping her notice the first symptoms of the dangerous condition in time, reports Need To Know.

Today, Jane is striving to do everything she can to ensure others do not face similar severe consequences due to delayed diagnosis.

The resident of Redditch in Worcestershire told the publication that her nose was completely destroyed after developing ANCA-associated vasculitis – a rare autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of blood vessels.

The initial problems began in 2012 after her dog, CeCe, accidentally hit her in the face with her head. Shortly thereafter, her nose began to swell, bleeding occurred, and she experienced constant congestion.

It took nearly two years before doctors managed to establish the correct diagnosis.

According to Jane, medical professionals couldn’t figure out what was happening for a long time, while her nose gradually started to literally “collapse” inward.

Only after consulting a specialist was she given a blood test that confirmed ANCA-associated vasculitis. This is a group of autoimmune diseases where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy blood vessels, causing them to become inflamed, swollen, and narrowed.

Vasculitis can be linked to infections, other medical conditions, or the use of certain medications, although in many cases, the exact cause cannot be determined.

To halt the progression of the illness, Jane was prescribed a course of chemotherapy in pill form. Despite the treatment, the nasal tissues were completely destroyed, necessitating the implantation of a prosthesis.

“Losing my nose is incredibly rare. I’m proud of how I’ve coped. I’m still on medication and will likely be on it forever, but the future looks incredibly bright. I wasn’t told my life expectancy, but I googled it initially, and the prognoses were dire. So now I’m in remission, and I feel good. I have a normal life expectancy now, and that’s priceless,” Jane shared.

Despite her ordeal, the woman has learned to live with her prosthesis and even jokes about the daily inconveniences.

“I’m proud of my nose. I try to dress warmer in winter because when it’s very cold, it sometimes drips, which always makes me smile. When I wear turtlenecks or tight clothing, it usually flips back, and that never fails to amuse me. My nose is now a part of me, just like anyone else’s.”

Later, Jane was invited to appear on the program This Morning, where she openly shared her story to draw attention to the little-known illness.

She is convinced that her case has already helped change the approach to treating vasculitis, and clinical guidelines are gradually being improved so that other patients can receive a diagnosis much earlier and avoid severe complications.

According to the British woman, as far as she knows, she is the only person who has lost her nose specifically due to vasculitis.

Jane is also currently involved in educational activities with the charity Vasculitis UK.

“I truly believe my dog saved my life. Dogs can smell Parkinson’s and cancer, and I think she sensed it.”

Recently, positive changes have also occurred in the woman’s life. After the implantation of special tubes in her ears, her hearing problems, which previously required her to use hearing aids, completely disappeared.

However, the consequences of the disease are still felt. Due to damage to her left eye, Jane underwent three surgeries, after which she developed chronic dry eye syndrome. Doctors offered treatment with Botox injections, but this carries the risk of double vision.

Furthermore, Jane undergoes a chemotherapy regimen every six months to keep the disease in remission.

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