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Marnie Harvey17-year-old British woman with mysterious illness
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- The Mysterious Case of Marni Harvey
- Struggling to find answers
- Living in fear and uncertainty
- Medical investigations and disappointments
- Seeking answers and support
- Dealing with social challenges
The Mysterious Case of Marni Harvey
17-year-old British girl with a mysterious conditionMarni Harvey, a 17-year-old girl from Stoke-on-Trent, England, has been suffering from a puzzling illness that no doctor has been able to explain. Since 2013, Marni has been experiencing episodes where thick, burning blood seeps through her eyes and drains from her ears. The severity of her condition escalated in July 2015 when blood began to flow from her eyes, ears, nose, and even under her nails. Marni is now considered the only person in the UK with these specific symptoms, earning her the nickname 'The Mysterious Girl'.
Struggling to find answers
Marni visited various doctors who conducted numerous tests, but no abnormalities were found. Her health continued to deteriorate, with intense migraines, abdominal pain, and overall weakness, causing her to miss weeks of school. Her attendance dropped to 50%, but she managed to obtain her high school diploma with less-than-expected grades. In an attempt to identify the cause of her condition, doctors advised Marni to follow a special diet, avoiding dairy, chocolate, gluten, grains, and sugar for almost two years. However, this did not provide any relief. By June 2015, her headaches and bleeding episodes worsened, leaving her with blurred vision and pain behind her eyes upon waking up.
Living in fear and uncertainty
Marni's daily life has been greatly affected by her condition. She no longer goes out with friends or leaves her house due to fear and embarrassment. She says, "I never know when the next episode will happen. I don't want to scare other people." Her dreams of becoming a nurse, going on vacation, and finding a boyfriend have been put on hold, as she must constantly visit different specialists in search of answers.
Medical investigations and disappointments
Throughout her journey, Marni has undergone various tests, including chest scans and brain tumor screenings, but nothing suspicious has been detected. Despite negative results, her bleeding episodes persist. Blood tests indicate good health, with normal iron levels and no signs of tumors or blood disorders. Imaging scans of her liver, kidneys, uterus, and ovaries have also shown no abnormalities. The only concern raised by doctors is her weakened immune system.
Seeking answers and support
While doctors continue to be baffled by Marni's condition, she and her family have researched similar cases around the world. Only two cases were found, one in the US and another in India, both involving teenagers who also experienced bleeding episodes without apparent cause. Marni's mother, Catherine, expresses frustration with the medical professionals' inability to determine the cause of her daughter's condition.
Dealing with social challenges
Marni has faced ridicule and harassment due to her condition, to the point where she had to delete her Facebook page. She says, "Some of my friends still visit me, but there are others I haven't seen in months." Rumors circulated, and people began to speculate that she had blood cancer or the Ebola virus. During her last hospital visit, children in the waiting room even took pictures of her with their phones. Marni feels like a mystery to the doctors, as they are unable to provide any answers.
As Marni continues to search for answers, she remains hopeful that someday the cause of her condition will be discovered, allowing her to live a normal life and pursue her dreams.
