A young woman has been labeled a medical mystery after falling victim to an unidentified illness which causes human nails to grow out of her hair follicles. Shanyna Isom, suffered an allergic reaction three years ago which caused the debilitating syndrome which has left her struggling to walk and carry out daily chores. The university student was left covered in hard scabs as 'nails' replaced the hair on her body and doctors are still in the dark about how to cure Shanyna’s mysterious illness.
Shanyna Isom lives with her family in Memphis and was in her first year at university when the nightmare began.
In September 2009 she was prescribed steroids after suffering an asthma attack and within hours the law student was ‘itching’ all over her body.
In 2011 she began treatment in Baltimore where doctors established that the bumps were in fact human nails slowly covering Shanyna’s body. She produces 12 times the normal number of skin cells per hair follicle, suffocating her skin.
Today doctors have yet to diagnose her but have been able to control her symptoms.
The illness has left Shanyna and her family deep in debt as state-issued insurance does not cover her care at the specialist unit she attends in Baltimore and only covers five of the 17 medications she is prescribed.
The family savings accounts are dry and her outstanding medical bills are currently up to $250,000.
Shanyna has set up the S.A.I Foundation to raise money for her treatment but fears she may not be able to continue.
She relies on family and friends for financial help and they have rallied around her for support.
Shanyna hopes that the foundation will be able to raise enough money to cover her medical bills and help others in the same situation.
She said: ‘If it means me dealing with this to help someone else, I'm willing to go through it.’
Shanyna Isom lives with her family in Memphis and was in her first year at university when the nightmare began.
In September 2009 she was prescribed steroids after suffering an asthma attack and within hours the law student was ‘itching’ all over her body.
In 2011 she began treatment in Baltimore where doctors established that the bumps were in fact human nails slowly covering Shanyna’s body. She produces 12 times the normal number of skin cells per hair follicle, suffocating her skin.
Today doctors have yet to diagnose her but have been able to control her symptoms.
The illness has left Shanyna and her family deep in debt as state-issued insurance does not cover her care at the specialist unit she attends in Baltimore and only covers five of the 17 medications she is prescribed.
The family savings accounts are dry and her outstanding medical bills are currently up to $250,000.
Shanyna has set up the S.A.I Foundation to raise money for her treatment but fears she may not be able to continue.
She relies on family and friends for financial help and they have rallied around her for support.
Shanyna hopes that the foundation will be able to raise enough money to cover her medical bills and help others in the same situation.
She said: ‘If it means me dealing with this to help someone else, I'm willing to go through it.’
