Mother disowned by her husband after facial tumours ravaged her looks has life-changing surgery to re-build her face

 

Samira Benhar, 39, from Casablanca, Morocco, suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which causes uncontrollable growths along the nerves. It left her with huge drooping tumours on the right side of her face - entirely covering her eye (left and cebntre). She became an outcast after being ostracized due to her appearance, and she was left heartbroken after her husband left her due to her looks. But finally - after receiving surgery in Spain to cut off the extra flesh and rebuild her face - Ms Benhar cried with happiness and said she is excited to begin her new life (right). ..More pics below

 

 

Ms Benhar, who cried with happiness at a press conference about her surgery, said she was 'badly damaged' both physically and psychological by neurofibramatosis

A mother to two children, aged 9 and 12, she suffered social rejection and had been abandoned by her husband, the Spanish website 20 minutos reports.

But her fate unexpectedly changed one day while sitting in a park, with her head in her hands.

Ms Benhar said: 'A woman approached me and talked to me. 

'When she saw my face she asked for a photo. I didn't have one so we went to a shop.

'Later she said to me, "I am not promising you anything, but I am going to do my best to help you".'

The woman was working for the Adra Foundation, a religious organisation which was running a health project in Morocco at the time. 

The woman took Ms Benhar's case to Dr Pedro Cavadas, a world-renowned surgeon in reconstructive surgery and implants. He is based at Manises Hospital, Valencia.

Dr Cavadas confirmed he could help - and promised surgery could vastly improve her appearance. 

He said: 'This is a genetic illness, rare but not so infrequent.

'Treatment consists in trying to make the face symmetrical. Fortunately the tumours are benign.'

Ms Benhar was flown out to Valencia and had three operations to remove the tumour, rebuild her face, and have a prosthetic eye put in. 

During a press conference unveiling the results of surgery, Ms Benhar broke down in tears. She is pictured with surgeon Dr Pedro Cavadas, who works at the Manises Hospital, Valencia

During a press conference where the results of the surgery were unveiled, Ms Benhar broke down in tears as she thanked the team at the hospital for giving her a 'new life'.

She said: 'Today I am very happy, I will never forget everything they have done for me.'

Now, she is on the way home to see her children for the first time in over a year - as the treatment has taken this long.

The Adra Foundation, which funded her treatment, will also help to find her a house and a job so she can look after her family.