Overview

• Under infectious-disease specialist Dr. Michael R. Scoma’s guidance, she began IV antibiotic therapy via a PICC line this month after two years of seeking a diagnosis for her facial condition.
• An at-home application of Nair last week caused chemical burns that compounded two years of unexplained facial swelling and disfigurement.
• Her ordeal has involved consultations with more than 20 doctors, multiple biopsies to rule out cancer and competing theories of parasitic infection, angioedema and allergic reaction.
• She has depleted her savings and now faces roughly $130,000 in medical bills, paying only minimums on credit cards.
• She battled suicidal thoughts earlier this summer and says her sons are the reason she did not give up.