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Kira HartleyAmerican woman with ovarian teratoma.
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- American Woman with Ovarian Teratoma
- The Discovery of the Massive Tumor
- A Serious Medical Condition
- The Removal of the Teratoma
- A Long Road to Recovery
- Life after Recovery
American Woman with Ovarian Teratoma
Kira Hartley, a 27-year-old American woman from Illinois, suffered from seizures, hallucinations, and memory loss. She was shocked when doctors discovered a tumor the size of a football and weighing 1.8 kg in her ovary. This tumor, known as teratoma, is a mass made up of embryonic cells and can contain various types of tissues such as hair, teeth, muscles, and bones. In Kira's case, the teratoma caused the development of encephalitis, a potentially fatal autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the brain. This led to seizures and "demonic" hallucinations.
The Discovery of the Massive Tumor
Kira shared her story on an episode of the show "Monsters Inside Me" on the Animal Planet channel. In the show, she and her now-husband, Brock Runner, talked about the strange events that led to the discovery of the massive tumor. It all started one evening in June 2016 when Kira suddenly experienced a loss of taste sensitivity during dinner. This led to a metallic taste in her food. Over the next few days, Kira suffered from sleepless nights and eventually had a panic attack while taking a shower.
A Serious Medical Condition
Kira was taken to the hospital, where a reanimatologist sent her home with antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection. However, the medication did not help. Soon, Kira started experiencing hallucinations and would scream, claiming that demons were chasing her. It was then that Brock realized something serious was happening to his future wife.
By the time the ambulance arrived at their home, Kira was convulsing and turning blue. The doctors were able to stabilize her condition by inducing an artificial coma. Kira remained unconscious for over a month. During an MRI, doctors discovered that she had a rare autoimmune disease called limbic encephalitis.
The Removal of the Teratoma
A computer tomography scan revealed the teratoma, a complex mass the size of a football, in Kira's right ovary. The teratoma contained fragments of cartilage, esophagus, lungs, and nervous tissue. Neurologist Graham Hughman stated that the tumor contained hair and a small collection of bones.
Since the teratoma also contained brain tissue, Kira's immune system produced antibodies to fight against the tumor. Unfortunately, these antibodies began attacking her brain, causing seizures and chaotic behavior. Kira underwent a major surgery to remove the tumor along with her ovary and fallopian tube. Another surgery in the head and neck area helped restore blood oxygenation and relieve pressure on the liver.
A Long Road to Recovery
When Kira finally regained consciousness, it took her about a month to speak again and recognize her family and friends. She decided to decline chemotherapy as she considered her condition "satisfactory." After three months of hospitalization, Kira was discharged and started taking anti-seizure medication, gradually reducing the dosage.
Since then, she has only experienced one serious seizure. Currently, Kira takes only one medication for seizures. However, she still faces short episodes of memory loss, which prompted her to start keeping a diary to record important moments. She stated that the diary has significantly improved her memory and reduced her absentmindedness.
Life after Recovery
Kira and Brock got married last month. Currently, Kira is trying to regain her previous level of activity and gradually return to work. Ovarian teratoma is a germ cell tumor that originates in the egg cells of women.
There are two types of ovarian teratomas: mature, which is not cancerous, and immature, which is considered a transitional stage to the development of a malignant teratoblastoma.
An ovarian teratoma can grow up to half an inch in size each year. If left untreated, it can become a massive tumor and pose a threat to surrounding organs. The largest recorded ovarian teratoma was the size of a basketball and weighed over 2 kg.
