GREENSBORO, N.C. — For 18-year-old Sally Nagappan , living with neurofibromatosis type 1 — or NF1 — is all she’s ever known. Diagnosed at just six months old, Sally has spent her life navigating the rare genetic disorder while also educating others about a condition many people have never encountered.

“It's a genetic condition that causes tumors that are typically benign, um, to grow throughout the body and the nervous system,” Sally said. “It can cause a number of complications including, uh, blindness, deafness, and even mobility issues.”

NF1 began affecting Sally in her earliest days. “I was diagnosed around 6 months old,” she said.

One of the first signs was a tumor near her right eye, which caused permanent blindness. “I had a like tumor around my right eye that probably led to

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