Opinion
Woman with rare medical disorder challenges stereotypes, inspires thousands to get and stay fit
Hannah Setzer grew up in a small city in Virginia. She was born with a uncommon dysfunction that docs believed wouldn’t enable her to ever stroll or speak, and survived not less than 60 reconstructive surgical procedures to turn into a passionate health teacher influencing and galvanizing over 65,000 followers on Instagram, in response to Well being.
“I used to be born with thousands and thousands of cysts in my head, neck, and esophagus, that means I can’t swallow, so I exploit a feeding tube, and so they have been additionally in my airway, which is why I’ve a tracheostomy tube to breath,” Setzer advised Well being.
She refused to let her medical situation stop her from her ardour of staying lively, competing in sports activities from working to final Frisbee whereas she was a toddler, per Well being.
Hannah refused to let her medical situation stop her from her ardour of staying lively. Courtesy of Hannah Setzer
A cystic hygroma, in any other case often called cystic lymphangioma, seems as a uncommon sort of cyst within the head or neck area resulting from blockage of the lymphatic system, which is just like the sewage system of the human physique that filters out extra fluid and germs, in response to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH).
WORLD’S OLDEST MAN LIVED THE ‘SIMPLE LIFE,’ DIES DAYS BEFORE TURNING 113
The NIH famous the situation can result in facial deformities, airway obstruction, trigger pores and skin infections and require surgical procedure to deal with it, however can develop again.
“Out in public [people] will stare at me, level, or discuss me—I don’t care about that,” she says.
Hannah Setzer was born with a uncommon dysfunction survived not less than 60 reconstructive surgical procedures to now turn into a passionate health teacher. Courtesy of Hannah Setzer.
Hannah continues her quest to remain lively and healthly. Courtesy of Hannah Setzer
In 2018, she resolved to meet a New Yr’s decision by exercising for 30 days, however then it spilled into 50 days, and fast-forward 4 years later, she continues her quest to remain lively and wholesome.
“I’ve completed somewhat little bit of the whole lot—yoga, working, weightlifting, kickboxing, and even random exercise movies on YouTube,” she says. “It’s been so fulfilling to really feel sturdy and highly effective and have muscular tissues I by no means thought I might have.”
FANS REMEMBER BETTY WHITE AS VIRAL ANIMAL DONATION CHALLENGE PICKS UP STEAM
Her mates have been so impressed by her health focus that they impressed her to start out her personal Instagram train platform @feedingtube.health, the place she shares exercises to inspire others to say lively, hoping enhance the presence of individuals with disabilities who’re exercising on Instagram, per Well being.
“On Instagram I didn’t see lots of people with disabilities who have been exercising and shifting. I felt possibly I ought to try this,” says Setzer.
“I had by no means seen somebody with a feeding tube doing what I used to be doing on-line or in magazines, so I assumed possibly I must be the primary particular person to do these items—so nobody else can say I haven’t seen somebody who seems like me.”
