A toddler living with a rare condition that caused her hands to become unusually enlarged underwent a specialized procedure to reduce the build-up of fatty tissue and fluid in her hands.

Cora Ruben has lymphedema, a condition that occurs when the lymphatic system does not work properly, leading to abnormal swelling.

The two-year-old, from Rose Creek, Minnesota, had an accumulation of fluid and tissue in her abdomen, legs, feet and — most noticeably — hands.

Cora went through numerous treatments, including massages and compression bandages, however, her hands continued to become larger.

Desperate to find another option, her parents Kasey and Brett Ruben met with an expert in Germany, who discovered that 80 per cent of the youngster’s swelling was related to fat and just 20 per cent to lymph fluid.

After having the excess fatty tissue removed from her hands, Cora can now pick things up and wear normal clothes like any other little girl, with experts being optimistic that she will lead a ‘normal life’.

Speaking of his daughter’s condition, Mr Ruben — a transportation worker — said: ‘Her hands are obviously the biggest thing people see.

‘But what people don’t know is she’s actually got it in most of her body.

‘It’s through her abdomen, both legs, both feet. Her genitals, through her arms. And as she gets older it’s only going to get worse.’

Mrs Ruben — a childminder — had a normal pregnancy, however, doctors noticed differences in Cora’s hands as soon as she was born, which they initially believed were related to swelling from birth.

‘The first few weeks we thought the swelling would go down,’ Mr Ruben said.

‘That’s what we were told.

‘[But] we saw the paediatrician and that’s when she suggested it may be lymphedema.’

Despite doctors’ best efforts, nothing helped to reduce Cora’s swelling.

‘In her case it has been growing, and that’s what alarmed doctors and her physical therapist,’ Mrs Ruben said.

‘And it still is worsening and we haven’t been able to control it like you usually can with massages and wrapping and compression.’

Just when her parents thought they had run out of options, a lymphedema expert suggested they meet Professor Etelka Földi, of the Földi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany.

‘Lymphedema is in essence a chronic disease caused by the inefficiency of the lymph drainage system,’ Professor Földi said.

‘When the lymph drainage system is inefficient then inflammation develops.’

Professor Földi initially prescribed a lymph-drainage therapist who used specialised massage techniques to prevent the build-up of fluid in Cora’s hands.

However, she then discovered the swelling in the toddler’s hands was made up of just 20 per cent lymph fluid, with the remainder being an overgrowth of fatty tissue.

‘She said it was 80 per cent fat, 20 per cent lymphedema, and the reason why her swelling wasn’t responding was because the fat was basically keeping us from appropriately compressing her hands,’ Mrs Ruben said.

The cause of Cora’s fatty tissue build-up is a mystery and is not usually linked to lymphedema.

To remove the excess fat, Professor Földi suggested liposuction, which then enabled massage and compression bandages to reduce the rest of Cora’s swelling.

‘I don’t think anybody likes the thoughts of having their child go through surgery but I think anybody with a child would do this,’ Mrs Ruben said.

‘It’s not her fault she was born with this, so I’ll do anything I can to help her live a quality and happy life.’

Despite some swelling still being evident, Cora’s condition has significantly improved.

‘Her ability to pick up things is just tremendously better,’ Mrs Ruben said.

‘Her hands are soft now and they fit in her garments which compress her hands.

‘When those are on, she can fit her hands in regular sleeves and she can do anything else anybody else can do.’

Professor Földi added: ‘I am almost certain Cora can lead a normal life. Someday she will be a happy woman.’

Cora features on Body Bizarre, which is on Saturdays at 10pm on TLC UK.

Source: Daily Mail