China's 'Elephant Man' is now struggling to lead a normal life after five life-saving operations to remove the world’s biggest facial tumor.
Huang Chuncai from Chenzhou city, central China’s Hunan Province, had the worst case of neurofibromatosis ever recorded. The tumor once grew as large as 15 kilograms, most of which had been removed in operations over the years.
As his parents could not afford medical treatment and doctors were also reluctant to perform the dangerous surgery, Huang was left untreated for 30 years. He could barely move, eat, or even sleep. As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, every time he walked around, he had to hold his growth.
And when someone offered money to his family to send him to a circus, Huang was so humiliated that he even considered suicide.
But in 2007, a widespread media coverage on his plight directed the local government’s attention, which then decided to fund his surgeries.
Huang Chuncai in his first surgery in 2007 at Fuda Hospital in south China's Guangzhou city. /Photo provided by Fuda Hospital
Huang Chuncai poses with doctors at Fuda Hospital after his second surgery in 2008 in south China's Guangzhou city. /Photo provided by Fuda Hospital
After his final operation in 2014, Huang has tried his best to lead a normal life - with a face much lighter, he can eat on his own, move easily, and doesn’t shy away from the crowd any more.
And despite all those surgeries, Huang still runs a risk of neoplasm recurrence, as he sees the massive tumor grow back slowly again.
1567km
