Today's Snapshots: Are These People Actually Crying Blood?

Haemolacria is a real physical condition that causes people to actually cry tears of blood. The tears of people suffering from this condition may range from being just tinged red, to entirely made of blood. While the exact cause or cure for this condition is not clear, it is known to be a symptom of several blood-related diseases or tumors. Let's take a look at some of the most talked-about cases of haemolacria in recent years:

15-year-old Calvino from Tennessee cries blood at least three times a day, with no warning when it's about to happen. All he says about it is, "Sometimes, I can feel it coming up like a tear. I feel my eyes watering. Sometimes, it will burn as it comes out."

Twinkle is also a teenager suffering from a rather ghastly version of haemolacria. The 13-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, India bleeds not just from her eyes, but also her nose, hairline, neck and the soles of her feet. It's almost like she's sweating out blood, but strangely it does not cause her any pain. Twinkle's 42-year-old mother is desperate to help her out.

Rashida, from Patna, is another young Indian woman suffering from the blood tears condition. Blood drips from her eyes several times a day, and surprisingly she hasn't been ostracized for it. On the contrary, she is regarded as holy and worshippers come to her to witness the 'divine miracle'.

Her followers bow before her with reverence and shower her family with several offerings. Rashida herself says, "I do not feel any pain when it happens, but it is a shock to see blood instead of water." Medical speculations have suggested the cause may be brain tumor or a malfunctioning tear ducts, but no one can say for sure.