Let me go first, your face is beautiful. It’s not a flaw, it’s not ugly. It’s sweet and joyful, and the fact you have gone through so much pain breaks my heart.

We must take the time to sit, to talk, to discover the person behind a face, beautiful or disfigured or whatever. Who are you? Why are you special?

I have a collection of faces, pictures of surgical patients funded through my non-profit; sweet, precious, huge smiles. Eyes out of line, massive scars, but so very beautiful. It breaks my heart to think they might suffer the same abuse, and shames me to think I was ignorant of the reality ahead of them. They are kids, they deserve love. They will be adults, who deserve love.

Like you.

Thanks for writing, and keep standing up!