Georgie Henley wrote on Instagram that she was pleased to be a member of the entertainment industry with obvious scars and that necrotizing fasciitis might have killed her.
Georgie Henley stated she had a rare flesh-eating sickness as a teenager and uploaded a photo of her scars.
The 27-year-old British actress, who rose to stardom as a kid playing Lucy Pevensie in The Chronicles Of Narnia, stated that necrotizing fasciitis she contracted at the age of 18 nearly cost her her life.
Henley stated in a lengthy social media post that after years of hiding her scars while at work, she is now ready to speak out and demonstrate that they are “nothing to be embarrassed by.”
“When I was eighteen years old and in my sixth week of university, I acquired necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and terrible virus that nearly claimed my life and wreaked havoc on my body,” the celebrity wrote in an Instagram and Twitter post.
“To avert the amputation of my left hand and arm, I underwent grueling invasive surgery, followed by major reconstructive surgery that resulted in a succession of skin grafts and scars.
“Physically and emotionally, it has taken me a long time to recover, but I believed that one day it would be OK to discuss what occurred. Today is a beginning.”
According to the NHS, necrotizing fasciitis, sometimes known as the “flesh-eating bug,” is a rare and life-threatening infection that can occur when a wound becomes infected. It requires immediate hospital treatment.
Henley stated that while she had been open about her scars in her personal life, she had concealed them professionally while working in the entertainment industry by “wearing bandages or coverings, make-up on set and stage, long sleeves whenever I might have been photographed, and trousers so I could put my hand in my pocket.
“I am pleased to have visible scars from working in this industry.”
“The sector I am a part of frequently focuses on a very narrow conception of what is considered ‘aesthetic perfection,’ and I feared that my scars might prohibit me from obtaining employment. The truth is that there is no such thing as “perfection,” but I have nevertheless lived with the guilt of feeling different, which was aggravated by the expectations that came with starting my job at a young age.
“However, my scars are nothing to be embarrassed by.” They represent a map of the suffering my body has undergone and, more significantly, a reminder that I have survived. They do not impede my acting ability, and I am glad to be a person in this field with obvious scars.”
Henley, who studied English at Clare College, Cambridge, and recently participated in The Spanish Princess series, praised Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge, as well as her friends, family, and coworkers, for their support throughout the years.
She stated, “I’m sure I’ll talk more about my experiences in the future, but now I’m just delighted to be free for the first time in a very long time.”
Thousands of Instagram users commented on her picture, including Emma Corrin of The Crown, who wrote “Love you geo.”
The Spanish Princess co-star Nadia Parkes exclaimed, “So proud of you. You are remarkable. Love you xxxx.”
What constitutes necrotizing fasciitis?
According to the NHS, necrotizing fasciitis is uncommon yet fatal.
Initial symptoms may include acute pain or loss of feeling near a cut or wound, swelling of the skin surrounding the affected area, and flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, and fatigue.
Later symptoms may include nausea and diarrhea, disorientation, and skin rashes or blisters.
Antibiotics or surgery may be used to remove the afflicted area.
Even after effective therapy, there may be permanent changes to your body’s appearance and the way you move or use the affected body part. On occasion, afflicted limbs must be amputated,” states the NHS on its website.
