Kris' Story:

My name is Kris. I was diagnosed with NF1 at age three. I was born with a large cafe-au-lait mark on my left calf. I am now 37, and have had four surgeries. Two on my left calf to remove tumors, one on my throat to remove a tumor that was pressing on my carotid artery and causing my trachea to deviate, and just 3 weeks ago one to remove two baseball size tumors (and the middle sections of my 8th and 9th ribs) out of my chest. Up until now I have been very lucky, but the pathology came back and this last tumor was malignant. I am now getting all the treatments lined up and should start in the next couple of weeks.

I did not write this to make people feel sorry for me. I have a wonderful, supportive family, friends, doctors, etc. Like others I wonder sometimes Why Me? But then I hear about someone with truly terrible problems and think so I will never wear a mini-skirt or go snow skiing. so what? I can go horseback riding in the hills near where I live and gather cattle, thats whats important to me. I feel blessed God gave me life and if I don't live it I will have wasted His Gift. I hope others can do the things they want and don't let having NF stop them, but from what I read in others letters they do just that and inspired me to write.