Neurofibromatosis and a Portrait of 1 in 3,000 Show Opening Soon

Author: International Museum of Surgical Science

Published On: 6/05/2025

Neurofibromatosis and a Portrait of 1 in 3,000: Ashok Shrestha’s Transformation is a powerful exhibition featuring nine works of printmaking, drawing, and painting by artist Rachel Mindrup, chronicling the medical journey and personal resilience of Ashok Shrestha, a young man from Nepal living with neurofibromatosis (NF)—a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue.

In 2016, Ashok began fundraising to travel to the U.S. for life-altering surgery after NF caused significant facial disfigurement. He arrived in Chicago in late 2017 to undergo a series of complex procedures led by renowned reconstructive surgeon Dr. McKay McKinnon. These surgeries included cranial reconstruction and the placement of a prosthetic eye, made possible by over $70,000 in grassroots donations organized by Mindrup and community partners.

Mindrup, an associate professor at Creighton University and the Richard L. Deming, MD Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities, met Ashok while exhibiting her NF awareness portraits in Nebraska. She has painted over 110 portraits as part of her ongoing series, Many Faces of Neurofibromatosis, using art to elevate stories, raise awareness, and foster empathy.

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