see more me and live well Cherubism

Victoria Wright became born with cherubism, an fantastic genetic disorder that reasons an over-growth of fibrous tissue within the face.
She has been referred to as names like fats chin, Buzz Lightyear and determined Dan. At university, a girl threatened to punch her eyeball "again into place".
but, no matter the hard years she has had developing up together together with her situation, her self-warranty is apparent. Victoria Wright speaks engagingly and with humour approximately dwelling with a facial disfigurement.
“A lady used to draw images of me in magnificence and percentage them around,” says Victoria, from London.
The tormenting simplest made her more determined to stand up for herself. “i've a totally sturdy revel in of who i'm and the way I want to live my existence,” she says.
“I don’t want to cover at home, afraid to exit and fearful of other humans. in the occasion that they have got issues about how I look it’s their trouble, now not mine.”
First signs and signs
Victoria modified into about four years vintage while the number one signs and symptoms of cherubism regarded. “My mum become brushing my teeth and he or she noticed they weren’t within the proper area.”
Cherubism, named after the overweight-cheeked, angelic figures in Renaissance art work, runs in Victoria’s family, even though in a miles milder form.
It became thought that Victoria's circumstance might regress after puberty, however it didn’t. alternatively, her jaw grew larger and it commenced out affecting her eyes.
She had surgery to alleviate the stress on her eyes, which saved her eyesight, but she although suffers from complications due to her impaired vision.
“Cherubism isn’t a painless scenario,” she says. “I do get twinges of ache. My head may be very heavy. docs say it’s as heavy as a bowling ball.
“I’ve been provided surgical treatment on my jaw to make it smaller, but I don’t anticipate it might decorate my appearance,” she says. “I’m used to the way I appearance.”
Victoria has been falsely portrayed in the media as being anti-splendor surgical procedure because of her choice no longer to have the dimensions of her jaw decreased.
She is not in the direction of surgical treatment and says: “I’m certainly now not against people with disfigurements having surgical procedure, but I’m quality with the manner I look. Why have to i've the surgical procedure for different humans?
“I’m glad with my face maximum days. in the end, I’m a lady, and no girl is clearly happy with the way she seems. but I’m now not going to change myself to make unique humans satisfied.”
Unsettling stares
Victoria has in no way got used to the stares, despite the fact that she is aware of that it’s a herbal human reaction. “I strive now not to take it too in my view. we all stare, even me," she says.
“As a teen, I used to get angry, however that doesn’t do any suitable to you or the person staring. It sincerely reinforces the stereotype that people with disfigurements have to be angry, tragic or scary.
“If I find out myself being stared at in an aggressive manner, it may be unsettling. however I don’t permit it get to me. That’s due to the fact I’ve have been given an top notch revel in of who i am.
“If someone’s staring out of curiosity, I just smile and nod to show them I’m a person and there’s no longer some thing to be fearful of.
"most of the time, human beings smile lower back. That’s a first rate feeling, due to the reality I realise I’ve made a small connection with them.”
The help she’s obtained at some stage in her lifestyles from circle of relatives, friends, instructors and converting Faces, the disfigurement charity, has been essential.
The charity recently released a website called iface for younger humans to talk about disfigurement, provide and acquire recommendation, and share private tales.
“There are first-rate characteristic models at converting Faces,” she says. “lots of frame of workers individuals there of all ages have a facial disfigurement.
“As a teen meeting them, I felt, 'Wow, you can have a career, and be glad and confident with a disfigurement’.
“occasionally you could sense remoted, specifically when you have a rare situation. It’s difficult if you don’t see all of us else in the road consisting of you. Getting peer help is so essential.”
converting perceptions
Victoria is analyzing regulation element-time and plans to be a solicitor, perhaps representing people who have experienced discrimination.
She says that fifty years in the past, the arena have become a far harder location for people with disfigurements. “Now we have human beings with disfigurements with a success careers, and we are now not hidden away.”
prison protection via the disability Discrimination Act and attention campaigns led by means of the usage of changing Faces are supporting to change public perceptions.
“i'd strongly encourage anybody with a disfigurement who feels they want guide to get in contact with changing Faces,” says Victoria.
“I recognize it is able to sense as even though existence is tough when you have an unusual look. You actually need to be courageous and take that first step out of the door.
“For anyone who stares, there are one hundred others who don’t and who will like and admire you for who you're.”