I was born with a rare craniofacial deformity. I have no cheekbones, my jaw doesn't move, I have no outer or middle ear, two of my ribs were removed and placed in my skull, I have a tracheotomy(for safety reasons) and I had a gestation tube for the first 21 years of my life. To date I've had 24 operations. Ask Me Anything.

Pic http://i.imgur.com/eJSrd.jpg

Pic http://i.imgur.com/8u65k.jpg

Pic http://imgur.com/3NKly

Pic http://i.imgur.com/eQmcC.jpg

Proof http://i.imgur.com/yL3Yo.jpg

Edit: Thank you for all the positive feedback. It has been a wonderful experience. Faith in humanity bolstered.

Comments: 2288 • Responses: 58  • Date: 

mybloodhurts1173 karma

my son is 13 and has this! thank you for being this brave!

Copo551449 karma

If I can offer one bit of advice it's this: Don't let anyone make you forget how great you really are. Life gets better and those haters, well they're gonna hate.

[deleted]146 karma

I don't have anything in the way of physical issues, but I have several psychological issues.

My question for you, do you hate being called 'brave' or a 'hero' for living with the cards you were dealt?

Copo551405 karma

Hate? No. Do I think people don't realize how brave they are when they call me brave? Yes. We all have our struggles in life and we all have to figure out how to deal with them. Do I know how to deal with being stared at and called names? Yes. Do I know how to work 3 jobs so support my wife and 3 kids, skipping meals so they don't go hungry? Hell no, that's brave in my book.

ab922728 karma

[deleted]

Copo55516 karma

That's a great story and a wonderful reason to get into medicine. I wish you the best.

vabann564 karma

Is there anything you would want parents of kids with facial differences to know? My 8 month old has a long life of looking different ahead of him and I've got no idea what to do. My best plan so far is to treat him no differently than any other kid. Pointers?

Copo55888 karma

That is exactly what my parents did. Weigh your decisions regarding operations carefully. I'm not really pro-cosmetic surgery but pro-functional surgery. Other than that, show him that he's loved, that he's not alone in his struggles and don't put limits on him. Let him try to push his boundaries even though he might fall. And of course remind him that he can do whatever he sets his mind to.

[deleted]22 karma

My brother's wife has an uncle with TCS; he was born in the 1950s and had minimal surgery (he has "ears", a tracheotomy, and a small nose). His physical appearance is much more affected by TCS because of the lack of medical science; do you think kids born with TCS today will benefit even more than you did from cosmetic or functional surgery?

Copo5536 karma

Oh I'm sure. Medical science is amazing nowadays.

sirmitchell546 karma

I hope you don't mind, but I am going to do a painting of you right now....I will report back with the results. This is one of my favorite AMA's of all time BTW.

sirmitchell960 karma

Here ya go dude!

I have never randomly painted someone, but I found your AMA extremely awesome and inspiring.

I hope you dig it! I didn't have much time to do it, and it was quite an impulse piece. If you want me to take it down, just say the words.

Copo55410 karma

Holy shit dude, that's awesome! Would you, like, send me a copy?

[deleted]540 karma

That fedora picture got me thinking. How do you look in an expensive suit, perhaps with a cane and a mean stare? I can't shake the feeling that you'd probably look like a criminal mastermind out of a comic book.

Erm...that was insensitive. Sorry.

Copo55560 karma

OMG that's awesome! Now you have to come up with my supervillain name.

SmallTownPanther632 karma

"Treacher Collins" itself actually has a surprisingly supervillain-ish ring to it.

justinrh8544 karma

Alternatively, just "The Treacher." He'd be a former schoolteacher turned supervillian.

Copo55452 karma

Oh dude, you win. The Treacher. Hahaha

reaperthesky106 karma

Please, for the sake of the interwebs, you must do this outfit/costume. Maybe a cigar, or one of those thin ones. Glass of red in one hand as well. gun in side rib gun holster slightly showing.

Please?

Copo5529 karma

I'm doing this. I will find a top hat, monocle, cane and cigar. I already own a suit. Just give me some time!

Vortigal277 karma

How about recommendations to Copo55 for a new hat

Copo55239 karma

Don't be jealous of my fedora. And before the rest of you jump on him, this is my best friend of 18 years and has fought off more prejudice for me than most anyone I know. Great guy.

ScopeOfTheFatedSky255 karma

Thank you for doing this AMA. Your eyes are absolutely gorgeous.

Are you fully physically functional everywhere else on your body?

Copo55428 karma

If you're wondering if "it" works, the answer is yes. Otherwise yes, everything else works as intended.

Degg233 karma

What can/how do you eat?

Copo55663 karma

There was a reddit post not too long ago about things your parents said that didn't click until much later in life. They told me as a child that one day I'd make some woman very happy. Why? I have a long tongue and it's very strong. I can eat anything under the sun, granted I may have to break it up to fit between my teeth but once inside, my tongue can tear it up.

othersomethings537 karma

Your parents told you that when you were a child? Dude.

Copo55569 karma

Like the bosses they are. I had to be like 7, I had no idea I just agreed with a big smile on my face. How hilarious they must have found it.

blindminds301 karma

my tongue can tear it up.

You ever use that line?

Copo55474 karma

Oh god, I really should.

jmarita177 karma

Absolutely you should. You can try it on me. Here, go:

Copo55292 karma

So they call my tongue The Shredder, wanna know why?

wildly_curious_199 karma

[deleted]

Copo55334 karma

Haha, unfortunately no. Girls in middle/high school weren't too fond of me. Getting older people are becoming very cool though, so we'll see.

urfrown232 karma

Goldenhar's syndrome here (another craniofacial deformity) Had 19 surgeries, 16 years old.' No questions, just sending you best of luck and well wishes :)

Copo55180 karma

Same to you my friend.

craaackle222 karma

Are you able to communicate effectively? Do you speak or use sign language?

Copo55386 karma

I can speak. I'd equate it to having a very thick accent, hard to understand at times but manageable. There are some words I have trouble saying. I used to use sign(my first language) but once I started speaking I stopped.

ShitsandGigs114 karma

Started speaking? Could you please clarify?

Copo55322 karma

I started speaking at whatever age babies usually speak at(1-2?) but I learned sign much earlier like 6 months.

colbaltblue76 karma

That is awesome! I have noticed, in reading, that teaching/creating baby sign language with an infant, is suppose to bolster the ability of learning multiple languages in the subject. Do you speak or write in any others?

Copo55131 karma

You know I never did learn anything else. I did pick up sign in college and found it very easy to understand. Maybe my early exposure gave me a predisposition to understanding sentence structure of sign, since it is so different than english.

SpiegelMirror209 karma

With a great attitude like yours, you are bound to do great things. :)

If I ever saw someone with Treacher Collins Syndrom, I would not intentionally stare because I'm judging them or something, it would come from curiosity more than anything. Sorry if people like me have ever made you uncomfortable.

Copo55231 karma

I figure most people are just curious. For the past 21 years I've been the only person with TCS in the state (last year a family with a TCS child moved to my city to see my doctor). If I was "normal" I'd probably unintentionally stare too.

ab92263 karma

[deleted]

Copo55114 karma

Arizona

Blankcheck198 karma

You are the man! What do you spend your days doing? What are your dreams?

Copo55424 karma

Thank you! It depends on the time of year I guess. I work, I go to college, I spend time with friends, I read a lot(Thank you reddit for turning me onto some good books), I lurk reddit. My dreams? To live a good life, be kind to people, get a job I like, love, same kind of dreams I think everyone has.

Blankcheck91 karma

Dream car?

Copo55388 karma

1969 Z28 Camaro, red w/black racing stripe, brown leather interior.

sixtoe7247 karma

What are you studying in college, and what are your career aspirations?

Copo55185 karma

Psychology. Hopefully some kind of counseling. If that falls through I can always cook.

shelldog113 karma

Based on your attitude and general outlook on life (yours, in particular), I'd say you would make a great inspirational speaker. I don't know about the pay, but you could surely touch a lot of lives and squash any misconceptions people may have about people with deformities. Because honestly, you're cool as fuck, and I doubt many people would bother taking the time to go out of their way to find that out about you. You're strong and brave, and can use those qualities as tools to help others find the strength in themselves to overcome their own hurdles in life.

Best of luck with everything, my friend, and thank you for doing this AMA!

P.S. I'm about to get my Bachelor's in Psychology as well. Fuck Yeah to us.

Copo5563 karma

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

cleanstart157 karma

How do you prefer to be treated by people you meet for the first time?

For instance, do you prefer that they treat you as though nothing is different, and actively ignore your genetic condition? Or does that seem unnatural and forced, and would you prefer that people get it out of the way, or not feel awkward about asking?

It's difficult to know what to do in those situations. I always try to treat people the same regardless of superficial conditions, and suppress my curiosity or concern, but I fear people might find that contrived and as rude as staring, in its own way.

Copo55148 karma

I personally understand curiosity. I may be a little awed at the size of your balls if that's the first thing you ask me, but I won't hold it against you. Most people ignore it and after about a month I tell them it's OK to ask, and they open up. I find that to be a nice way to do it. I wouldn't mind if they asked after a month either.

cleanstart37 karma

Thanks for the answer!

Follow up:

Is there anything particularly annoying that you wish people just wouldn't do? Like a reaction that you get again and again that just gets really irritating?

Copo5569 karma

Umm, I dunno. Asking if I was burned or some other assumption is kind of annoying.

[deleted]111 karma

Man I hope out of all these comments you see this because I want you to know that, even though I don't know you, I love you with all my heart.

Copo55166 karma

I love you and your username too.

nostateofmind83 karma

Is it difficult to cope with people who stare? Do you think you will continue to have operations?

Copo55176 karma

Not anymore. I've conditioned myself to not really notice the double takes and subtle stares. But once I make eye contact I usually just smile, maybe wave, and continue on my way. I dunno about the operations, it's still kind of up in the air.

[deleted]74 karma

[deleted]

Copo55141 karma

I'm in college pursuing psychology. Hobbies? Movies, video games, reddit, cooking. Wants? To always be happy, simple as that.

[deleted]83 karma

[deleted]

Copo55602 karma

I don't know actually. I find it hard to justify all that money and pain just to make myself look more like everyone else. Functional is a whole different issue but something purely for looks? We're all gonna get old and wrinkly eventually, I just got a head start.

Ainslie79 karma

Is there a Mrs. Copo55? ;)

Copo55100 karma

There is not. Not even a girlfriend actually.

Incocknitou55 karma

Have you ever had a girlfriend or have been intimate with someone?

Copo55160 karma

I have not actually. I was very shy up until the last few years. I decided enough of this shit and started working towards being more outgoing. Girlfriends have been tricky as I found myself awkward in my first few attempts.

bowlnoodlez54 karma

You watch Eureka, like Jax & Daxter, favorite movie is Usual Suspects, strong tongue, and own an awesome hat? I would totally date you!

Copo5590 karma

Two awesome hats actually =P

Is_Totally_Gellin70 karma

Not really a question, but I have to say I think you look like Andy Samberg

http://imgur.com/xJywR

Copo5547 karma

I swear it's the nose. And our hair is the same, wavy/curly.

AramaiK68 karma

For what reasons do you have to have a tracheotomy? Also i was curious if you could still hear or partially? How does this effect you socially?

Copo55135 karma

My jaw doesn't move, so I have it in the event I choke on something. I have a bone conduction hearing aid that acts as the outer and middle ear. I have no perception of distance with sound so when in a loud area I have a very hard time hearing and have to resort to reading lips. So I spend most of my time listening rather than partaking in conversation.

[deleted]64 karma

[deleted]

Copo55101 karma

It is pretty damn awesome and oddly enough fairly durable. I've dropped this thing into sinks, pools, I even buried it once and it still works like a champ going on 21 years now.

yellowstone1068 karma

Couple questions inspired by Wikipedia's remark that Treacher Collins is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder...

  • Do they know whether you got the gene from one of your parents, or was it a new mutation?

  • How do you feel about having children, given that they would have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease (absent some sort of embryonic selection technology)?

Copo55132 karma

I was wondering when this question would come up. It is a new mutation, no history anywhere of TCS in my family. I don't know about kids. On one hand I know that my life was hell and there were days that I didn't want to do it anymore. And I don't know if I could knowingly put someone else through that. On the other hand, I know that I would be there for my child to lean on through all the struggles of his/her life and would help make them strong.

Ultimately it is a conversation I will have to decide with whoever Mrs. Copo55 is.

swansoup67 karma

Would you consider adopting?

Copo55102 karma

Yes

rawn5364 karma

Of the 24 operations, how many have been functional? Cosmetic? Have they largely been successful?

Copo55142 karma

They've largely been unsuccessful I'd say. Most of my operations took place ~20 years ago when their knowledge of TCS was limited. The ribs are in my skull in an attempt to get my jaw to work. My jaw used to be about an inch or so recessed and when I was 12 they extended it(most painful one I remember) but it opened my airway and allowed me to project my voice better. I'd say most of my operations have been more for function than cosmetic, neither I nor my parents really cared.

mybloodhurts127 karma

my son, Isaac, is starting the jaw surgeries this year.

Copo55139 karma

Good luck to him, I hope it goes well.

[deleted]64 karma

Dude I didn't see this in the comments, so I just have to say that when I read the title I was expecting to be all freaked out by the pictures. In my opinion you actually look pretty awesome/cool, not like ugly/disturbing or anything. Do people ever tell you that? Just my opinion!

Copo55157 karma

Tell me I'm ugly? Yea sure. I've even had someone tell me I'm the antichrist. Do more people tell me I'm awesome/cool? Yep, and their opinions are the ones that matter.

spendtoomuchtimehere56 karma

The antichrist? D: Why did they say that?? Was it a complete stranger?

Copo5550 karma

I'm not sure why but yea I have no idea who they were.

ENGRISH_DETECTED61 karma

Do both your eyes work, but only one tracks? What's the deal there?

Copo55110 karma

My left eye is fully functional. My right eye is practically blind(can't read the big E on vision charts). I can see shapes and colors out of it(well enough to navigate on foot even) and I notice it is more light-sensitive than my left.

xluckymex125 karma

You should get a monocle. That would be badass.

Copo55302 karma

You know, I never thought of that. I could go around saying "Quite" with much more gusto/credibility if I had one...

goodson12854 karma

can you grow a full beard?

Copo5585 karma

No! And I am very saddened by this. Part of it is from the surgery and part of it is just genetic.

Koeniginator52 karma

What's the deal with "two of my ribs were removed and placed in my skull"

Copo5592 karma

They put them in my jaw thinking maybe it would make them move. Didn't work.

suuuuuu41 karma

So are you going to go on living with ribs in your jaw?

Btw, utmost respect to you.

Copo5583 karma

Well they're there, fused with all that other bone, so no point in taking them out.

bananamonkey8852 karma

Are you able to drive?

Copo55220 karma

AWW YEA

Ibotted49 karma

Where are you in the second picture? What country do you live in?

Copo55453 karma

Tucson, Arizona. Born and raised.

jalepenomack529 karma

In the desert is where he spent most of his days.

CuntDeletedMyAccount485 karma

Chillen out maxing and relaxing all cool, getting some surgery outside of school.

Copo5575 karma

Nah man, I like the rhyme.

A-punk47 karma

Best comeback to someone who has insulted you?

Copo55263 karma

Honestly I've never had to say a word or lift a finger. Any time it's ever happened someone has stepped in to defend me quicker than lightning, even complete strangers. Faith in humanity instantly RESTORED!

iknoweverythingkinda38 karma

I read in an answer that you can read lips! That is an amazing talent to have, I was wondering as to what extent can you understand someone that way. I mean there must be some sentences where words can get mixed up. Keep up the great attitude man, haters gonna hate, and screw them.

Copo5598 karma

Usually I can understand pretty well. When combined with hearing part of the conversation and context I can figure out what they're trying to say. There definitely are times when the mouthing is identical to other words, for example, "I love you" and "olive juice", although they'd have to be pretty strange to say olive juice.

suuuuuu32 karma

Do you have a shorter life expectancy?

Do you think your condition has given you any unique insight into human nature/society/etc.?

Copo5586 karma

Life expectancy is the same as everyone else.

Being as shy as I was and with most kids leaving me alone I had a lot of time to think. We're all basically the same: insecure, petty, clingy but the other side of that coin is we're all brave, kind, loving. Unique I don't know. True, I think so.

There are other things I'm sure.

LoriStrode27 karma

Wow I've never heard of this before.Can you talk at all if you jaw doesn't move.. Can you hear?

Copo5540 karma

Yes and yes.

TacoDragon25 karma

What do you want to be doing in 8 years?

Copo55104 karma

Hmm 30. Teasing my siblings for being old, in a solid relationship, have a good job doing something I enjoy? Really I just hope I'm happy in life.

[deleted]16 karma

Have you dated? What do you look for in a partner?

Copo5558 karma

I have not. I have been rather shy the majority of my life and only in the last few years have I really come out of my shell.

It's nothing physical I've noticed. I look for strong, independent women who sees and accept the me that is inside. I am not a perfect individual, I have plenty of flaws. I just want someone to share my life with.