VIDEO OF JUSTIN BIEBER’S ILLNESS ‘HEARTBREAKING’
A patient with the same facial-paralysis causing virus that has affected Justin Bieber said on Saturday she had been saddened to see what the Canadian pop star is going through and proud that he is making people aware of the illness.
“I’ve watched his video and I’m not going to lie, I shed a couple of tears. I never thought that I would relate to someone so much that I didn’t know,” Nicoya Rescorla told Reuters in a video interview from Marazion, in southwest England.
Former teen star Bieber, 28, disclosed on Friday that he had been diagnosed with a virus that left half of his face paralyzed and forced him to cancel some upcoming performances. He said in a video posted on Instagram he had contracted Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which affected nerves in his ear and face, and his right eye was not blinking.
Rescorla said she developed the syndrome 20 months ago, around the time her 11-week-old child was admitted to hospital with a severe infection and her grandfather, who she was caring for, had to move to a care home.
“I think personally for me stress was a huge factor, a huge factor,” said Rescorla, who is also 28 and has three children.
“It’s hard to think of someone else going through
something that you’re going through. Obviously, Justin Bieber ... he’s a huge celebrity, and I also felt so proud that he was spreading awareness of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Personal impact
“It was heartwarming that he was spreading awareness, but also heartbreaking that he was going through it.”
Speaking of the impact of the illness on her life, Rescorla said she can no longer drive or leave the house on her own. She said she has to drink from a straw and has problems with vertigo.
“I went from being so independent, fiercely independent, to having my husband care for me because I haven’t been able to do it for myself,” she said.
Signs of recovery
Bieber is showing early signs of making a recovery, according to a surgeon who specializes in face paralysis.
Charles Nduka, a consultant plastic reconstructive surgeon in Britain and the cofounder of health charity Facial Palsy UK, said about 75 percent of patients with the syndrome who receive early treatment, including steroids and antivirals, make a full recovery.
“I did notice in the video shared by Mr. Bieber that he does appear to have some evidence of recovery, which is encouraging,” Nduka told Reuters.
“With facial paralysis one of the most obvious things is patients are unable to close their eye fully to blink and they are unable to smile,” Nduka added.
“Before the smile recovers, the first thing that will develop is there is increasingly symmetry in the face at rest. So, the base of the nose often elevates slightly, and the mouth becomes more even. On the video that was shared I could see some signs that there is some early recovery.”
Bieber said he was physically unable to perform his upcoming shows.