Welsh teacher who felt 'hideous' tells surgeon 'don't blame yourself' after risky facial surgery
Ceri was very emotional after her life-altering operation on BBC's Saving Lives in Cardiff
(Image: BBC )
BBC show Saving Lives in Cardiff tells the true stories of staff and patients at the University Hospital of Wales in the Welsh capital. One 59-year-old former primary school teacher, Ceri, was very emotional after her life-altering facial surgery and told her surgeon "I don't want you to feel bad".
Ceri has a rare neurological condition which frequently causes one side of her face to suddenly and involuntarily go into spasm and contract. She first suffered symptoms of the condition, called hemifacial spasm, while working as a primary school teacher.
The spasms can be painful, have severely impacted her confidence and mental health and meant giving up a job she loved. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter .
Ceri admitted that she struggled to leave the house since the spasms started again, having already had one operation five years ago.
Talking from her garden, Ceri said: "For the last five years I've probably spent half my life out here. I just want to hide, all the time. I just, I feel hideous. It takes away my confidence, it's taken me away as a person. I feel like an empty shell at times."
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Ceri knew that the operation to hopefully help the spasms did not come without risks, having slightly lost some of her hearing in the first operation.
Speaking about it, she said: "Whereas people have life-threatening conditions, to me this a life-limiting condition... to have this surgery is going to give me my life back... I know the risks and I'm prepared to take those risks.
"If I don't give it a shot, then I'll never know. At least I can say that I've tried and you've done your best and to me, that means a lot."
Doctor George Eralil, who operated on Ceri, detailed the risks before the surgery and said: "Each of these risks can be life-changing in itself, should they happen. Whether it be hearing loss or whether it is facial paralysis or whether it's a stroke, there are so many things."
After the surgery, Ceri became deaf in her right ear and the right side of her face was paralysed. She also had a small stroke that was provoked during surgery, which caused the hearing loss and paralysis.
Doctor George described these effects as "disappointing" and Ceri became emotional when Doctor George explained what happened.
Ceri underwent a risky surgery on Saving Lives in Cardiff
(Image: BBC )
Hearing that she had had a stroke, Ceri revealed that she knew the risks. Talking to Doctor George, she said: "I was aware of that... to me the hearing is secondary, I don't want you to feel bad.
"I am eternally grateful for you taking this chance." before hugging Doctor George. Talking about Ceri's reaction, Doctor George said: "I was expecting her to be more pessimistic but this is an amazing woman.
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"She's come through quite a lot, I was not expecting that response at all. That goes to show the kind of metal that she is made of and I think that is what will get her through." Saving Lives in Cardiff continues on BBC One Wales at 9pm on Monday, April 21.
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