What started as a small pimple has turned out into big lumps that have completely disfigured the face of a 34-year-old woman. For the past six years, Maria Hlungwani of Mkhomi village near Malamulele has never enjoyed a night’s peaceful sleep, because of the terrible pain from the lumps on her face.

The lump on her lower lip has disfigured her mouth, which is now protruding towards her right nostril. Her tongue has also grown bigger and her chin has also protruded towards her neck. Below the left eye is another lump, which also keeps on growing on a daily basis. Another lump also invaded her neck and some small ones are protruding from her head. Sometimes, a trickle of blood oozes from her mouth for more than 10 minutes without stopping.

“I have consulted traditional healers, sangomas, men of the cloth, prophets and medical practitioners, but the lumps keep on growing on a daily basis. Doctors could not tell me what I’m suffering from and traditional healers say this is a man-made disease, but they cannot cure it. The itching is so terrible that I spend the whole night scratching myself. At one time, I lost hope for life and I was only waiting for the Lord to take my soul, because I am rally suffering,” said Maria.

She explains how her life of hell started: “I did not take it seriously when a small pimple developed on my face in 1999. I though it was a minor thing and never thought that my life would be changed completely. I became worried when the pimple grew bigger, and decided to visit the local clinic. I received some medication and went back home, but the pimple kept on growing…”

Maria said she went back to the clinic and she was transferred to Malamulele Hospital. “I was again transferred to Tshilidzini and later went to Polokwane Provincial Hospital, but the lumps kept on growing.”

She says she cannot eat properly because her tongue and teeth are affected. “I mostly survive on soft food, because I cannot chew properly, due to the pain. I cannot also carry fire wood or a water container because of the terrible pain in my neck. How long must I suffer before someone comes to my rescue?”

Although she receives a temporary disability grant from the state, Maria says the money is not enough to meet her medical and basic needs. “I’m too poor to afford any special medical attention and I’m also looking after my two kids, Matimba (12) and Hlamalani (6), who are still at school. My husband, Thomas, is also unemployed and it makes life difficult in the family. I humbly request community members out there to assist me because these lumps are killing me. I don’t care whether the assistance comes from traditional healers, clergy or sangomas – as long as I become healed and enjoy the precious gift of life again.”

She added that she has now decided to confine herself to her RDP house because rude people laugh at her when she moves around the village. “I am now a prisoner in my house. People look at me with scorn and some of them no longer speak to me. Others are also afraid to touch me while more laugh at me. I want to be healed and enjoy life like anyone else.”

Maria’s husband, Thomas (39), says he will keep on loving her till the end of the world. “She is a loving woman and she needs my support in hard times like these. She needs someone who will always be at her side …”

Community members who would like to assist Maria can call 083 480 5244 or alternatively visit her at Mkhomi village, approximately 20km west of Malamulele Town, near the Ngobeni Café.