TV show has finally helped me to accept who i am
Huddersfield mum has sTarring role in new channel 5 documenTarY
A HUDDERSFIELD mum who suffers from a rare genetic skin condition is embracing her appearance after taking part in a television documentary.
Rachael Reynolds, 43, from Oakes, has learned how to be more accepting of her inherited skin disorder after living in a house with eight other people with unusual appearances, as part of a Channel 5 show being screened this Monday.
The mum-of-three has neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic disorder which leaves her with large bubble-like lesions all over her face, neck, arms, back, tummy and legs.
She has suffered years of insults and rude stares because of her appearance, which have badly dented her confidence and made her so self-conscious she keeps her body hidden from view.
In the new series called House of Extraordinary People, Rachael appears as one of nine people with different appearances who share a Yorkshire cottage for ten days to learn from each other’s remarkable stories, share their experiences and confront public perceptions.
Rachael, who is married to Mike 48, said: “I have a skin condition where lumps pop out of my skin. I’ve got thousands of them all over my body.
“I’m very self-conscious and scared of public places and the way people react.
“The experience didn’t necessarily make me feel better about my own condition, just more accepting because everyone in the house treated me like I was equal to them.
“It was great. We had a mutual understanding towards each other and shared the same empathy, and they gave me some new found confidence for when I’m out and about.
“I even shocked myself with a few things I managed to achieve. I can’t say what – you’ll have to watch.”
Rachael, who is also hearing impaired and relies on lip-reading, inherited the genetic skin condition from her late father, who also suffered with the same lumps.
But her appearance didn’t start to change until she hit puberty and then steadily became worse with each of her pregnancies, as more and more lumps appeared on her body.
She has undergone a lot of painful plastic surgery and laser treatment to remove the lumps over the years, but despite the treatment, there is no cure and the lumps grow back.
Rachael - who is mum to James, 17, Siobhan 13, and seven-year-old Logan - said being part of the show had changed her perspective.
“I don’t know if it is going to change my future, I just know I can talk about it better now,” she said. “I can’t compare myself to the others, everyone is different. I find it easier to talk and ignore the rudeness now. Seeing what the others are going through has helped me deal with it better.”
During the three-part series, viewers will be able to watch as the group confronts public prejudices by carrying out daily tasks like shopping and eating out, while some will face their greatest fears such as swimming.
House of Extraordinary People will be screened on 10pm on Channel 5 this Monday.