Woman Loses Sight and Hearing After Childbirth as Sister and Father Are Diagnosed With Rare Disease

A 32-year-old woman in central China who gradually lost both her sight and hearing after giving birth has drawn widespread attention after her family revealed that her sister and father have also been diagnosed with a rare inherited disease.

The woman, from Yiyang in Hunan Province, was previously an English teacher at a middle school in Changsha and was described by her family as healthy, active and fond of traveling before her illness progressed.

Her sister, identified as Yi, said the woman had already experienced declining vision and hearing before giving birth in 2024. During pregnancy, doctors discovered tumors in her brain. After the birth of her son, her condition deteriorated, and her vision and hearing gradually declined until she could no longer see or hear.

The family said the loss was not a sudden consequence of childbirth itself. Rather, the woman's symptoms had appeared before the birth and were later understood in the context of a possible genetic disorder.

Her sister said she was eventually diagnosed withneurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)after experiencing hearing problems and undergoing genetic testing. She subsequently arranged examinations for their father, who had previously experienced hearing loss and had also developed tumors. He was also diagnosed with the condition.

The older sister has not undergone a new genetic examination according to the family's latest account, but relatives believe her symptoms and previously detected brain tumors are consistent with NF2.

NF2 is a rare genetic disorder associated with tumors involving the nervous system, particularly tumors affecting nerves responsible for hearing and balance. China's National Health Commission included neurofibromatosis in its 2025 clinical diagnosis and treatment guidelines.

The family now has three confirmed members affected by the disease: the father and both daughters. Yi said the discovery came gradually and that the family had previously regarded the various tumors and hearing problems as unrelated health issues.

The woman's condition has profoundly changed her daily life. Because she can no longer see or hear, relatives communicate with her by writing words in the palm of her hand. Her family said she remains mentally clear and continues to care deeply about her young son.

Her son, who was born in 2024, is now under two years old. Family members said the child has already learned to help his mother in simple ways, such as holding her hand while walking and moving obstacles out of her path.

The woman's husband has also remained involved, according to her sister. Online claims that he abandoned his wife after her illness were rejected by the family, which said he helps care for both his wife and their child.

The case has generated discussion online, including speculation that the woman should not have had a child because of her underlying condition. Her sister pushed back against those comments, saying the family did not know before the pregnancy that the disease could progress in such a severe way.

When asked whether she regretted becoming a mother, the woman reportedly communicated through writing in her palm that shedid not regret it. Her family says her son has become an important source of motivation as she continues to live with the disease.

The family now hopes that advances in diagnosis and treatment will provide more options for patients with NF2. For them, the experience has also highlighted the importance of recognizing possible inherited conditions when multiple family members develop similar neurological symptoms.