Finding My Craniofacial Tribe

I was born different. There’s no denying that. Maybe it’s not as noticeable now, but the truth is I wasn’t like all of my peers. Not completely anyways. I had appointments with reconstructive surgeons. I received copious amounts of stares out in public. And I knew the ins and outs of my local children’s hospital.…

I am in Control

I often wish I were quick-witted. I wish I knew what to say the very moment it needed to be said. For instance, the other night in an elevator a preteen was standing across from me, noticed something weird about my face, and ran over to her friend to whisper in her ear. Her friend…

When a Perfectionist Writes a Book

It’s here! It’s finally here! It’s been a year since I found out I would be writing a book and having it published, but in many ways, it feels like I’ve been waiting for this day my entire life. I don’t necessarily believe in fate or destiny, but I have always known I would do…

Confronting My Reality – Part 2

If you haven’t already, read Part 1 of this essay for a little bit of background.   A few months ago, I found myself in another predicament of choosing whether to confront my reality or to ignore it. A friend suggested I read a best-selling book about a boy with an extreme craniofacial abnormality. She had…

Confronting My Reality – Part 1

I’ve never been one to confront my uneasiness with a head-on crash; I’d rather cautiously navigate around my feelings without leaving an emotional wreck in my wake. Believe me when I say my stoicism runs deeper than just the mask you see. With a heavy dose of irony I tell you that as vocal as…