LOOK: Flesh-eating bug eats actress’s face

A 41-year-old actress from Ryde in the Isle of Wight has contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a bug that consumes the body’s soft tissues.

Lois Temel had no idea that a bug was eating her flesh away since 2008. According to her, she contracted tuberculosis while working with homeless people. Because of the disease, her immune system got weaker which allowed the infection to take over.

Although she didn’t feel pain in her face, Temel started feeling constantly tired and weary. Unfortunately, doctors weren’t able to pinpoint the cause of her condition.

Doctors only became aware of Temel’s situation after putting a camera up her nose. Apparently, the deadly bug had been thriving on the actress’s nose, eating away her flesh.

“I had about a year of being passed from doctor to doctor and it was only when decided to put a camera up my nose that they diagnosed it—when he saw the damage he said, ‘Your face is empty,’” she told The Daily Mail UK.

To remove the bacteria and dead flesh off her face, Temel had to undergo surgery in 2008. Moreover, she also underwent a special type of facial reconstruction that utilizes bioactive material. Temel was the first person in the UK who went through the Bioactive Glass Procedure.

After the surgery, Temel also underwent a lung drainage procedure, speech therapy as well as physiotherapy for her lungs and body to recover.

A year after the surgery, Temel was shocked to discover her devastating disease had returned. One morning, Temel sneezed blood along with a piece of bone which was later identified as her septum.

“I just sneezed and blood started flowing out of my nose and I looked down at my hand and there was a lump of bone, which turned out to be my septum,” she shared.

As a result of her disease, Temel had no choice but to give up her job as an actress and move back into her parents’ house. The unfortunate turn of events took a toll on her as she became suicidal.

Luckily, a friend helped her get back on track by booking her in a voice masterclass at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.

After undergoing five medical procedures, the actress is currently on her way to recovery.

Featured image credits to The Daily Star.