special lives
When Ricky, who is now ten, was born he spent the first few days of his life in intensive care. Around the age of one Ricky’s parents, Silvana and Mario noticed some brown spots on his back. The doctor diagnosed him with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 is characterised by spots of increased skin pigmentation and can cause non-cancerous lumps, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), learning difficulties, eye problems and epilepsy.
While this diagnosis was upsetting for Mario and Silvana they believed Ricky’s condition was reasonably manageable. However, by the age of three Ricky began to struggle with his eyesight. At first there was hope that his eyesight was just slow to develop but following an MRI a tumour was discovered on Ricky’s optical nerves.
You can read the full version of the Ellul family story in the latest edition of Special Lives.
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Special Lives Newsletters
2011