Marta Helena Barbosa, a mother of two, is in dire need of cosmetic surgery due to a rare condition, neurofibromatosis, causing her face to resemble melting.
She recalled the onset of this condition from childhood, stating, “My biggest dream is to have a facelift.” Marta emphasized the importance of work for her, beyond aesthetic concerns, explaining, “I can’t find work because appearances are important nowadays.”
She expressed the agony of being unable to work while facing societal judgment.
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Marta, reflecting on her daily struggle, confessed, “My worst enemy is the mirror.” Despite receiving sick pay from local authorities, she finds it insufficient to support herself and her two adult sons.
To make ends meet, she resorts to selling sweets and recyclable materials on the street. Marta, residing in Trindade near Goiânia, Brazil, articulated her urgent need for surgery to regain self-respect, asserting, “I need this surgery so I can stop humiliating myself to others.”
She underscored the importance of work in her life, lamenting, “I go door-to-door looking for work and always find them closed.”
Marta stressed the significance of employment in achieving personal goals and providing for her children.

Marta expressed her fear, stating, “If I don’t do this, I could lose the house where we live.” Last year, she underwent surgery to remove most of the unsightly tumors on her face through Brazil’s public healthcare system, SUS.
Presently, she awaits a cosmetic procedure aimed at enhancing her appearance.