A woman whose skin grew too fast for her body has tragically died aged only 32.
Hannah Betts was called an “inspiration” for maintaining her positive attitude even whilst she suffered from an ultra-rare skin disorder.
Hannah spent her entire life with Harleqiun ichthyosis, an incurable condition which results in thickened skin over the entire body.
Around half of all babies affected die within the first few months, but Hannah lived a full and beloved life, sadly dying from cancer on May 18.
Hannah, from Great Yarnmouth, Norfolk, was born with a one-in-300,000 disorder which causes the body to create far too much skin.
Her sister Lucy Betts, 35, suffers from the same condition.
She said: "I still don't think I can believe she's gone. Sometimes I want to see her so badly that I feel I can't breathe.
"It's a very big rollercoaster of emotions. It's really hard."
Lucy said that she and Hannah had to carry out strict daily routines to stop their hardened skin from cracking.
This included bathing every single morning, rubbing off an excess layer of skin and regularly moisturising throughout the day.
Lucy said: "Having the same condition made our bond so strong. We went through a lot together that we couldn't explain to anyone else. I knew exactly how she felt.
"She stayed with me for the last couple of years. My whole life revolved around her. We were so lucky to have her in our lives. She made everything so much better.
"She made me laugh like no one else could. She loved everything pink and sparkly. I'll always remember her smile. She was so loving - she loved with her whole being.
"She was so honest. If you wanted to know if your bum looked big in something we would ask Hannah.
"If we were out and someone made comments about us then Hannah would tell them in no uncertain terms to go away."
Hannah, who also had cerebral palsy, lived in a bungalow at a supported accommodation facility.
She was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in February 2021 and underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
In February, she was admitted to James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth with Covid.
She recovered from the virus but sadly passed away from cancer last week.
Hannah's parents Jan and Clive Betts paid tribute to their daughter as an "inspirational" woman.
Jan, 71, said: "She will be so sadly missed by so many people. She was such an inspiration to so many people. She never stopped smiling.
"Music was Hannah's biggest passion. She loved singing and dancing."
Clive, 66, added: "She was a very inspirational girl. She had the best smile ever. She fought bravely and unfortunately her little body just couldn't take it anymore. As her father I'm so proud of her."
