The Man Who Couldn’t Kiss His Wife

For years, 68-year-old Gerard McAliece from Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, lived in quiet shame. What began as a small bump on his nose slowly grew into something that took over his life. Gerard suffered from rhinophyma, a rare condition that causes the nose to swell and become enlarged due to overactive oil glands.

“It just kept growing and growing,” he recalled. “As much as I tried to ignore it, people would stare — and some would even turn away.”

The swelling eventually became so severe that Gerard’s nose hung over his mouth, making simple pleasures impossible. He couldn’t kiss his wife, Carol, or even drink a pint without his nose getting covered in foam. The stares and cruel comments — especially from children — cut deeply. “I don’t blame them; they’re too young to filter what they say,” he said. “But it still hurt.”

Despite his embarrassment, Gerard hesitated to seek medical help. After a single visit to a locum doctor, he gave up hope, believing his condition would be dismissed as merely cosmetic. “I’m not a pushy person,” he said quietly. “I just accepted it.” For six long years, Gerard avoided social events and even felt anxious at his grandchildren’s birthday parties, fearing their friends’ reactions.

Read Part 2