Billy is a man in his mid-twenties that suffers from a rare disease called Cherubism. Its main affects are that it creates a “moon” shape in the face. Some call it “Buzz Lightyear Disease. Billy was born normal but as he grew his face began to stretch and his eyes bulged which took his parents to the doctor to get the diagnoses. He stands before the audience today as he introduces himself to his classroom of students. He addresses the elephant in the room, his face. He shares the story of his father leaving, his mother becoming his world while always telling him the truth and making sure that she created a safe haven for him because she knew people were going to be cruel to him. It was his senior year in high school that altered his universe. The day of the senior prom he looked great, sat alone and enjoyed his snacks and punch. Then his life changed when in the last five minutes of prom he had his first dance with a girl- just one dance, and in that five minutes his life was changed forever. When a group of boys assault him he gives up for a moment, thinking that maybe if they beat him enough the doctors will be forced to fix the face that he has been cursed with. After spending months in the hospital, he wakes up to a new life, the one that he didn’t know he would ever be able to live. This is a story of looking in the mirror and being honest about what is seen in the reflection, taking that reality and making it work for you. It is also a story for all ages in being able to find your joy in all of life’s’ situations. Billy has a beautiful story, soul and to see inside of it if only for a minute is a gift to your life.
