Close-up of eye
IN PHOTO: A close-up of a contestant is seen during the annual Miss Tiffany's Universe 2005 transvestite contest in Pattaya. A close-up of a contestant is seen during the annual Miss Tiffany's Universe 2005 transvestite contest in the Thai beach resort town of Pattaya, nearly 150 km (90 miles) southeast of Bangkok, late May 7, 2005. More then 30 contestants entered in this year's contest, which aims to promote a positive image of transvestites. Picture taken May 7, 2005. Reuters/Adrees Latif

A woman from Hawaii is desperate for a medical diagnosis that can be attributed to the inexplicable bleeding of her eyes and tongue. Although she was given an initial diagnosis in 2008, her recent symptoms could not be explained by doctors.

Linnie was first diagnosed with Gardner-Diamond Syndrome, which is a rare condition characterised by random bruising due to anxiety or stress. However, episodes of random and uncontrollable bleeding distressed her after two years, also leaving the doctor baffled. "When it bleeds, it doesn't hurt. It's what leads up to the bleeding," the 24-year-old told Hawaii News Now. "I'll feel pressure on my eyes, my eyes will be puffy and raw and that's when I know my eyes are going to bleed."

Linnie explained that her bleeding episodes start with the splitting of her tongue down the middle, then subsequently bleeding for a couple of days. She has had 11 cautery sessions to diffuse her tongue and 7 blood transfusions so far. Nonetheless, her symptoms got worse, with additional eye involvement noted. Her eyes spontaneously bleed overnight usually between 2-5am, when she is asleep.

Linnie’s mother, Lisa, said she had slept with her daughter for several times now and she had to check on her every hour. Sometimes, when Linnie is sleeping in her own room, Lisa frequently visits her and often sees her daughter’s face covered in blood. During these times, she would wake her daughter up and asked to clean herself up; but if the bleeding was not extensive, show would just wipe her daughter’s face and goes back to sleep. Lisa said there are times when the blood drench was so bad that even Linnie’s hair would be covered in blood that she had to take a shower in the middle of the night.

Linnie, who graduated in 2008 and is now working as a teaching assistant, had already consulted 30 doctors, but not a single one was able to explain her condition. Being normal and seeing even a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel is all that she’s been looking for, Linnie closed.

To contact the writer, email rinadoctor00@gmail.com

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