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Saowanee Rittichot, better known as 'Nong Aom', who had provided moral support and awakened the fighting spirit in lots of hopeless people across Thailand, died of lung cancer and complications at Bangkok's Saint Louis Hospital.

 Her life was presented on Channel 5's Joh Jai (Straight to the Heart) programme about six years ago and Modernine's Khon Khon Khon reality show in 2005. Her lively bearing and optimism inspired many.

Nong Aom suffered from the disease since she was nine. The genetic skin disorder started as a small wound on the corner of her mouth, but later the wound spread to almost every part of her skin.

She was admitted to hospital on January 31 because of chronic wounds on her right arm. The arm was amputated to save her life, but doctors discovered she had lung cancer, too.

Ichthyosis is dry, thickened, scaly or flaky skin. The skin is said to resem¬ble fish scales. It pained Nong Aom so much that she had to get her relatives to slough off her skin.