Gabriela Bazan

Gabriela Bazan (born 7 January 1980 in Lima, Peru) is a type-2 neurofibromatosis patient who has become famous in her native country for the foundation and research programs that she wants to create for Peruvians to raise their awareness about that disease.

Bazan had been operated in 2000 for what appeared to be a non-dangerous formation on her left ear. In 2004, as she was attending a local university, she started to lose her audition on her right ear. A few weeks later, another formation, this time on the right ear, appeared and Bazan had it successfully removed. Her auditive problems got worse, however, and doctors practiced several other exams on her, all of which came out negative.

Decided to find out what exactly was wrong with Bazan and how they could help her with her auditive and increasing headache pains, doctors continued testing her for different illnesses. Finally, in the summer of 2004, she was diagnosed with type-2 neurofibromatosis.

Bazan tried to find out about her disease by herself, but she was shocked because of the lack of knowledge about neurofibromatosis in Peru. Since the disease affects an estimate of 1 out of every 4,000 people, she took it upon herself to inform her fellow Peruvians about the disease, and what symptoms to look out for.

Bazan then opened a bank account, and she began appearing regularly on Peruvian television to inform people about her disease. She also travelled across Peru, giving public speeches about it.

In less than a few months, she had become very famous in her country, serving as an inspiration to many of her countrymen and women. Bazan's fame crossed the Peruvian border; currently, there are campaigns to raise money both for her to have surgery and establish a foundation in Argentina and other Latin American countries.

On November of that year, she became known to Hispanics in the United States as well, when Univision's show, "Primer Impacto", had a segment on her.

Bazan has six tumors around her brain. Although not cancerous, the tumors nevertheless put her life at risk, because they are located in vital areas of her brain. Doctors have told her that if she doesn't get the six tumors operated in less than three years, she will die. Because of her condition, however, there is also a possibility that she could die before that amount of time has passed.