It took 24 surgeries and 60 hours in the operating room for a team of American specialists to remove hundreds of tumors from the face, head, and body of Trinidad and Tobago resident Charmaine Sahadeo.
These procedures, carried out over ten weeks in 2023, have dramatically transformed her appearance.
For decades, Sahadeo endured insults, stares, and cruelty from people who didn’t understand her condition. Covered in clusters of painful growths, she was often mocked and even called a “monster.” But after her surgeries, her life has begun to change in ways she once believed were impossible.
Though her medical journey is not yet complete, Sahadeo’s confidence and self-worth—absent for so many years—are slowly returning. She can now look in the mirror without fear.
“I never realized I was this pretty… this beautiful,” she said with a radiant smile.
Sitting in her Chaguanas home with her hands clasped, the 44-year-old mother of two repeatedly thanked God and the medical team who restored her hope. “Heavenly Father, thank you for easing my pain.”
For more than 30 years, Sahadeo has battled neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that triggers tumor growth across the body. Over time, the tumors engulfed her face, limbs, scalp, chest, and back. A massive 20-pound mass on her right leg made standing and walking nearly impossible. Tumors inside her nose, mouth, and eyes threatened her breathing, vision, and ability to eat.
Desperate and frightened of dying, Sahadeo sought help everywhere. Feeling unheard locally, she reached out to producers of TLC’s medical series Take My Tumour, who then arranged for her to travel to Los Angeles in April.
There, Dr. Ryan Osborne—a leading head and neck oncology specialist—began treatment. Because a mask could not fit over her tumors and no veins were accessible for general anesthesia, the first four-hour surgery was performed under local anesthesia. Sahadeo watched as doctors removed the tumors one by one.
It was only the beginning. She would undergo 23 more surgeries, all free of charge.
She returned home on June 26 with renewed energy. “My pain is gone,” she said proudly.
Yet challenges remain. Her house is in disrepair—broken windows, crumbling cupboards, termite-damaged doors—and her disability grant of $2,000 a month barely covers rent, utilities, and food. One of her sons, who earns minimum wage, still lives with her.
Her prayer now is for financial relief. “Lord, I put these burdens in your hands.”
