Swelling She Popped Thinking It Was a Pimple Turned Out to Be a Rare Vascular Tumor
Hope Schiefer learned that a swelling on her face, which she squeezed when she was 13 thinking it was a pimple, was a rare vascular tumor and that she has been living with the risk of paralysis for 19 years.
Thirty-two-year-old Hope Schiefer has been struggling with a rare hemangioma on her face that has been growing since she was thirteen. Initially mistaken for an ordinary pimple and squeezed, the mass was diagnosed after years of tests as a complex vascular growth that could not be operated on.
The Real Face of the Swelling Mistaken for a Pimple
It all started when Hope was just thirteen and a friend noticed a swelling on her face. The young girl first tried to get rid of this mass thinking it was an ordinary pimple, but when there was no change, she took the situation to doctors.
After examinations, Hope was referred to a vascular surgeon and diagnosed with a rare vascular growth involving the blood vessels on her face, resembling a large blood clot.
The Great Risks of the Surgery
Over the years, numerous medical tests such as MRIs, computed tomography, and ultrasounds were performed to examine the structure of the tumor. Having gone to the operating table twice to stop the blood flow, the young woman's tumor continued to grow.
Because the tumor is tightly connected to one of the main blood vessels in her face, doctors reported that a new surgical intervention carries fatal risks such as a blood clot dislodging or paralysis on the right side.
Challenges in Daily Life
Stating that she can constantly feel the blood flow in her vessels, the young woman points out that her pulse can be clearly observed from the outside.
Stating that the mass spread toward her neck after the birth of her son, Hope explains that the feeling of heaviness in the area reaches quite challenging dimensions on some days.