Karina Rodini was born in Brazil, and by the time she was 9 years old, she started noticing small brown patches on her skin.
Doctors diagnosed her with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which causes tumors to grow along the nerves.
At age 14, heavier "plexiform" tumors began to grow on her body. The most substantial growth actually began as a freckle — one that kept growing until it covered her leg and hip.
Karina, now 30 years old, has already undergone 10 surgeries, and her largest tumor weighs 90 pounds. She needs a seamstress to hand-make her clothing, and she can barely walk.
Karina's sister, Patricia, has found a surgeon from the United States who is willing to travel to Brazil in order to remove her largest tumor. However, her family is now left with the task of raising enough money to get her this lifesaving surgery.
Watch the video to meet Karina, and please visit her GoFundMe page if you would like to help her in any way.
This article originally appeared on June 3, 2021.
