Jennifer Hiles was born in Huron, South Dakota, with a small birthmark on her nose. Doctors told her parents it would eventually fade and no medical treatment would be necessary.
But at around 3 months old, the birthmark swelled and got bigger. Soon, Jennifer's nose was covered in red blotches, and she began bleeding from her nose and gums.
At 8 years old, Jennifer had a large mass between her eyes, and her upper lip began to grow. She had laser surgeries, blood transfusions, experimental shots — nothing worked.
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Doctors tried to cauterize the vessels in her face to stop the bleeding, to no avail. They spent years trying to figure out what was wrong with Jennifer, until she finally received a diagnosis at age 13. It was arteriovenous malformation, a potentially deadly condition that can cause the arteries and veins to rupture, leading to bleeding into the brain or spinal cord.
The only way to fix the dangerous condition was through surgery. Doctors placed saline-filled balloons under Jennifer's skin, where they remained for eight weeks. This way, her skin would expand and be used for skin grafts after her malformation was removed.
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