Indian woman born without a face hopes for a better life after surgery

A rare genetic condition has rendered a 21-year-old woman in India to spend her entire life without a face after doctors admitted they could do nothing to help her. Khadija Khatoon suffers from neurofibromatosis, which is a general name for a number of genetic conditions that can lead to the development of swellings or lumps on the body.

The extra tissue growths on her face have severely distorted her facial features. In fact, Khatoon does not even know if she has eyes or a nose. Her mouth is just a small slit on the left side of her face. Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, Khatoon’s poor family does not have the means to give her the medical treatment she needs.

Currently, a crowdfunder page has been set up to help raise funds for her surgery. Local NGOs have also come forward to help her connect with specialists who could help her. Khatoon’s condition received national attention when a local government officer, Rupak Dutta, 52, from Kolkata, spotted her on the street last week and posted her photo on Facebook, reports the Daily Mail.