Abandoned By My Parents Because Of My Face | Minutes With | UNILAD | @LADbible

Summary

The video script tells the deeply personal journey of a man born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a condition that affected his facial features. Abandoned by his birth parents due to his appearance, he was adopted at the age of five by a woman named Gene, who provided love and support. He struggled with societal judgment, self-esteem, and feelings of isolation, leading to a period of excessive drinking and self-destructive thoughts. However, a pivotal romantic relationship with a girl named Beth helped him gain confidence and self-acceptance. Despite heartbreak, he learned to value himself and later sought closure with his birth parents, who chose not to reconnect. The script ends on a positive note, with the man embracing his identity, finding happiness, and building meaningful relationships without the need for surgery to alter his appearance.

Takeaways

• 😢 The speaker was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a condition that affects facial development, leading to the absence of cheekbones and incomplete ear structures.
• 👶 The speaker's birth parents were horrified by his appearance and left him at the hospital, feeling no maternal bond.
• 🏠 At the age of five, the speaker was adopted by a woman named Gene, who provided love and support, and never avoided difficult conversations about his condition.
• 👀 The speaker experienced bullying and ridicule due to his appearance, which led him to feel different and to try to alter his appearance by pushing his eyes up.
• 💔 The speaker struggled with feelings of loneliness and rejection, believing he would never experience love or form intimate relationships due to his facial differences.
• 🚫 In his teenage years, the speaker developed a hatred for his face and desired surgery not for medical reasons but to have a 'new face'.
• 🍻 The speaker turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, using it to fit in with friends and entertain them at the expense of his own health.
• 💔 He experienced deep depression and thoughts of wanting to escape life, feeling he didn't belong in a world obsessed with image and looks.
• 😊 A turning point came when a girl named Beth showed interest in him, leading to a relationship that boosted his confidence and self-acceptance.
• 💌 The speaker attempted to reconnect with his birth parents but received a clear rejection, which, although painful, he came to respect and accept.
• 💪 Despite the challenges, the speaker learned to love himself and his face, finding happiness and forming meaningful relationships without the need for surgery or external validation.

Q & A

What condition does the speaker have?

The speaker has Treacher Collins syndrome, a condition they were born with that affects the development of facial bones and tissues.

What physical features are affected by Treacher Collins syndrome in the speaker?

The speaker's cheekbones, ears, and jaw are affected by Treacher Collins syndrome. They lack full cheekbones, have incomplete ear structures, and a slightly receded jaw.

How did the speaker's birth parents react to their condition at birth?

The speaker's birth parents were horrified by the child's appearance, felt no maternal bond, and left the hospital 36 hours later, leaving the child behind.

How old was the speaker when they were adopted?

The speaker was adopted at the age of five, on May 18, 1990.

What impact did the speaker's adoptive mother have on their life?

The speaker's adoptive mother, Gene, provided an incredible foundation of love and never avoided difficult conversations about the speaker's face and birth parents, which helped the speaker live a fulfilling life.

How did the speaker initially cope with people's reactions to their appearance?

The speaker initially tried to make their eyes look like everyone else's by pushing them up in the mirror, hoping it would make them more acceptable to others.

What was the speaker's experience with dating and relationships before Beth?

The speaker had no real experience with dating or relationships before Beth. They felt they would never be intimate with anyone, have a family, or experience love due to their appearance.

How did Beth change the speaker's perception of themselves?

Beth's acceptance and admiration of the speaker's face made them feel attractive and confident, transforming their self-perception from feeling ugly to feeling like 'the sexiest guy in the world'.

What was the speaker's relationship with Beth like?

The speaker and Beth had a healthy relationship for a few months, which was the speaker's first experience of a relationship that didn't rely on external factors for happiness.

How did the speaker attempt to reach out to their birth parents?

The speaker attempted to reach out to their birth parents through a letter when they were around 24 or 25 years old, expressing a desire to meet and share their life with them.

What was the response from the speaker's birth parents to their attempt to reach out?

The birth parents responded with a letter stating they did not wish for any further contact and that any attempts would be ignored, which they both signed.

What is the speaker's current outlook on life and their condition?

The speaker has embraced their face and condition, focusing on self-love and self-discovery. They have found happiness, healthy relationships, and opportunities without the need for surgery or altering their appearance.