“I thought I should probably go to the doctor and find out what was going on,” Hardman later recalled during an appearance on This Morning. Looking back, she believes that moment with her dog may have saved her life.
Although it took doctors nearly two years to identify the cause, Hardman was eventually diagnosed with vasculitis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of blood vessels. In her case, the condition primarily affected the blood vessels in her upper airways, sinuses, and eyes.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, vasculitis can restrict blood flow and damage organs and body tissues if not treated promptly. Depending on the type and severity, the disease can affect nearly any organ system in the body.
“I think the dog saved my life because if you don’t get treated, you’re dead within a year,” Hardman said. “She alerted me that something was wrong with my nose.”
Despite receiving treatment, the disease continued to damage the tissues in her face. Over the next three years, the inflammation gradually destroyed the cartilage in her nose.
“It was basically necrotizing,” she explained. “My nose collapsed into my face.”
For about 18 months, Hardman lived with the severe facial changes while doctors explored treatment options. She says leaving the house became emotionally exhausting because strangers frequently stared or asked deeply personal questions about her appearance.
Eventually, surgeons determined that the damaged tissue could not be saved. In 2017, her nose was surgically removed.
Six weeks later, she received a custom prosthetic nose. The prosthesis attaches securely using magnets connected to implants placed in her skull, allowing her to wear and remove it with ease.
“I just look normal again,” Hardman said. “When you have a facial difference, it’s incredibly difficult to face the world.”
Rather than hiding her prosthetic, Hardman has chosen to speak openly about it. She even approaches the subject with humor, revealing that she keeps several prosthetic noses stored in a wooden Twinings tea box.
Among them is what she jokingly calls her “drunk nose”—a slightly redder version she says she wears after enjoying a few glasses of wine. She also has a darker version for the summer months when her skin develops a tan.
Despite the lighthearted approach, Hardman says her everyday prosthetic gave her something far more valuable than appearance.
“I hated the way I looked and couldn’t look anyone in the eye,” she admitted. “Now, I’m loving life again. My prosthetics gave me my freedom back.”
Today, Hardman remains in remission and undergoes maintenance chemotherapy approximately every six months to help keep the disease under control.
She also regularly shares videos on social media, answering questions about living with a facial prosthesis and educating others about vasculitis. She explains that many people are surprised to learn she can still smell, taste, breathe normally, sneeze, and even deal with a runny nose.
“I do still have snot, I do still sneeze, I can smell, I can taste, and I breathe exactly the same as everybody else,” she said in one TikTok video. “If you’ve got any more questions, just ask.”
By sharing her experience with honesty and humor, Hardman hopes to raise awareness of vasculitis while helping people better understand facial differences. Her story is a reminder that listening to unusual symptoms and seeking medical attention early can make a life-saving difference—and that resilience can help people rebuild their confidence even after extraordinary challenges.