That poor young woman…. I surely hope the surgery is successful. Horrible.

Ma’am, would be better to have legs like that instead of being in a wheelchair without a leg to stand on. Be like Job-look for the good in the bad.

I pray the doctors and nurses can help this woman. No one should have to suffer like that. We don’t understand or know why people develop these diseases which result in such suffering. I pray this woman can have a new and improved quality of life. I pray all people and animals can be helped.

Oh this poor woman! Why did it take so long for anything to be done for her? I just don’t understand it!

The disease is typically caused by a worm-parasite which invades and blocks lymphatic channels. Typically this is seen worst in 3rd world countries (often in Africa) where access to modern healthcare is nonexistent.

The National Lymphedema Network (NLN) can tell you all about the condition this woman has. Elephantiasis, when caused by the mosquito. When the cause is not parasitic, as in her case, it’s lymphedema. Modern healthcare doesn’t know how to treat lymphedema either. What they plan on doing to her, cutting away the lymphatic tissue, is not necessarily the answer. I hope they do a follow-up story on her.

Lymphatic filariasis is NOT a “rare” disease Fox… Take a look at Africa. There are worse things than 100 pound legs that happen, particularly to males.

If you want to actually help people avoid this sort of thing, donate to:

Partners in Health : http://www.pih.org/home.html

Nothing but Nets : http://www.nothingbutnets.net/

Mosquitoes spread this disease (and many others) a $10-20 donation can buy a family a net to protect their bed from these diseases.

Howard asks “why did it take so long…”. The short answer Socialized Medicine.

I wish that publicity for health care to fix these problems can be increased in these less-informed regions of the world–don’t wait, go to a doctor, there is help! So many tumors, so many health concerns like this that just don’t get attention through the lack of knowledge among these people groups. Instead of developing Botox for wrinkles, our health care companies should be working on delivering meaningful treatments for conditions like this, which includes publicizing the availability of medicines in remote areas.

Clarification on the story: Experts DO know what causes this disease. The disease can be caused by one of two things: The first is caused by parasitic worms that infest your lymphatic system. One of the functions of the lympathic system is to pull liquid from your extremeties (arms, legs, ect) and recycle them back into the circulatory system so that your limbs do not swell. When an individual gets infected by these parasitic worms their lymphatic system is not able to pull liquids away and it results in the type of symptoms seen in this young woman.

Elephantiasis can also be caused by irritants that are in soils, particularly in third world countries. When this happens, elephantiasis is then known as podoconiosis.

I hope in the future Foxnews does a little more research on what they are publishing. It is important as a powerful news agency to report accurately.

I have seen people with elephantisis in the South. It’s also prevalent in some African countries. I was told it was caused by a parasite carried by the same mosquito that causes malaria.

But she’s not in Africa! And “Fred” is a very insensitive person.

I pray the surgery is very successful and that the immune system is restored completely. I command all disease and viruses from infecting the body and that the electrical and magnetic frequencies be in harmony and balance in the name of Jesus. And, that she would have a wonderful future full of hope and life.

I pray this young woman is totally healed in the name of Jesus and that the surgery is a great success!

Is this free surgery another gift from the United States? Charity starts at HOME!

May God bless this young woman and may her doctor free her from this and her life can be good. Poor little thing my heart breaks for you. To know this happens in life and many suffer throught this deep pain you make us all shame how we take our lifes with out thanking God for the bless life we have. I will pray for you

why was nothing done before she reached this age?i saw some one not to long ago with what looks just like this here in oneonta walking with a walker.this could have led to many other major health problems could it not?from say heart ,sugar level way to high,bloodpressure.if this were in the usa anyone of us as parents would be on charges of medical neglect by child protection agency.this is very sad for this young lady to have suffered this long and whose to say she could not end up with long term problems again.she could still end up into needing a wheel chair could she not?i will pray that for her that she can get around on her own and get the education or job she wants ,there is true hope found in god alone .

I fell badly for this young woman…I hope she gets the help she needs.
on the other hand my husband, we live here in the ole USA , is dieing from Brain Cancer.
have you ever tried to live on Social security and pay for health insurance and try to eat too and pay for meds.
I have to say I am really tired of supporting the rest of the world while my husband dies and all the time he is worried about our bills.
There is no real support in this country.
SAD.

“Instead of developing Botox for wrinkles, our health care companies should be working on delivering meaningful treatments for conditions like this, which includes publicizing the availability of medicines in remote areas.”
- I do agree with Chip. If this desease occured commonly in Europe/Amerika or in other developed regions, I bet all possible research and treatment would have been done decades ago! We live in an injustice world. I think the surgery is not the answer for this young woman, although I pray a best suitable outcome for her. Elephantiasis needs to be researched and good medicine developed.

This lady has what is called Lymphedema. It just happened to be the last stage of Lymphedema which is showing in the pictures. There are treatments available besides surgery in order to help with this condition, called Complete Decongestive Therapy, which consists of Manual Lymph Drainage, Skin care, Exercises to activate the muscle pump and Compression Therapy. This lady has never had any form of therapy and we at Healing The Generations would offer free treatments to this lady if she would be able to come to Florida. Anything is better then have to go through surgery and make the lymphatic system completely disappear. Let’s hope she can get some help before they do the surgery. Healing The Generations is a Certified Lymphedema Clinic with Physical Therapist certified in the treatments of Complete Decongestive Therapy.

There is help availabe for her besides surgery, it is called Complete Decongestive Therapy, which consists off Manual Lymph Drainage, Skin Care, Exercises and Compression Therapy. Healing The Generations would offer free therapy for her is she would be able to come to Florida.
Let her not make the mistake of surgery.