This extraordinary 63 year old multi-talented woman, has Dercums Disease.

Never heard of it? You may say.

Neither had the many GPs or specialists Sigrid visited over many years, since having her first lump excised from behind her left ear in 1972.

The lymphomas (lumps) began to multiply over the years.

After having had a fall she found the lymphomas were increasing rapidly.

They were painful and when Sigrid was having regular stabbing pains in her back, she decided to have some of the more painful lumps removed.

It was 1995 when she was diagnosed with Dercums Disease by her surgeon, Dr Jules Whitty of Windsor in the Hawkesbury district.

After another fall and squashing two vertebrae in her lower back, the lymphomas increased.

Dercums Disease is a very debilitating and painful disease also known as Dercums Syndrome.

It was discovered by Dr Frances Xavier Dercum in 1888.

Sigrid is in Parkes to educate the doctors, the medical profession in general, and the public.

She will speak next week at three venues – Railway Hotel 7pm on Tuesday, July 7; Wednesday, 11am Parkes Community Health Centre (11am); and Thursday, Parkes Leagues Club (7pm).

You will find her talk not only informative and educational, but totally inspiring.

Sigrid’s talent for entertaining her audiences whilst educating and informing, are well known in Sydney.

Her talents include hairdressing, having started her own salon at 18 years of age.

She was hairdresser to the famous such as Jose Feliciano of the hit song, C’mon Baby, Light My Fire!

She travelled the world and visited every top salon including The Swarzkoph and Wella Factories in Germany.

Sigrid was also a magician’s assistant for some time.

In 1971 she bought the original model of ‘that famous’ dress Sonja McMahon wore to the White House when President Nixon was in office.

Sonja was the wife of Prime Minister Billy McMahon.

In 1995 Sigrid wrote a book called The Battle of Sneaky Wee - a book to assist parents help their bed wetting children overcome the problem.