Woman in Pangasinan suffers from enlarged fingers and arms that weigh 7 kg

A woman in San Fabian, Pangasinan, has been suffering from enlarged arms and fingers that weigh around seven kg.

According to a “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” episode, Leslie has a hard time eating, walking, and dressing up because of her condition.

“Pag minsan po hindi ko na po makutsara 'yung mga kanin. Nabibitawan ko po agad 'yung kutsara,” she said.

“Nabibigatan din po ako pag naglalakad. Mabigat po kasi 'tong kanan kaya po 'yung likod ko, parang tabingi po. Nakukuba po.”

[Sometimes, I can't even scoop up rice. My hands lose grip on the spoon. It also weighs me down when I walk. My right hand is really heavy that's why I tend to hunch over.]

It gets worse when the weather is cold because her arms and fingers throb with pain.

Although she had a hard time doing specific tasks, Leslie said she made sure to still help her parents and around the household.

She sweeps floors, washes the dishes, and even does the laundry.

“Malambing siya. Wala po akong masabi sa anak kong iyan. Mabait talaga. Hindi ko naman po sinisisi ang Diyos po. Basta 'yung importante po, wala siyang nararamdamang sakit,” said Leslie's mother Gina.

[She's a really sweet child. I don't blame God for her condition. I just don't want her to feel any pain.]

Leslie also endures mean and humiliating comments from people around her. Because of her fear of being bullied, she couldn't do the dance covers she'd been wanting to perform on TikTok.

“Sinasabihan po nila ako na, 'ba't parang gloves 'yang kamay mo?'” Leslie said, crying.

[They'd ask me, “Why do your hands look like gloves?”

Leslie's parents blamed her condition on what Gina ate during her pregnancy.

Gina said her husband Manolito caught crabs and fed them to her while she was pregnant.

Overcoming her fears

Despite the bullying she experienced, Leslie said she was blessed with good friends who defended her and encouraged her to showcase her talent in dancing.

With her friends' support, Leslie finally dared to show her dance moves on TikTok, and she was surprised when netizens left positive comments on her videos.

With the help of the KMJS team, Leslie underwent tests and was able to visit a specialist who said she might have Marodactyly, a condition where the hand and fingers became enlarged because of tissue and bone overgrowth.

The specialist also said that what Gina craved when she was pregnant had nothing to do with what happened to Leslie, adding that the condition may be treated through surgery.

The procedure, however, was complex and needed long-term planning.

As Leslie evaluated her options, she reached out to the public and encouraged everyone to showcase their gifts and not let their fears get in the way of what they want in life. —Kaela Malig/RC/MGP, GMA News