How did Robert Hoge's family initially react to his birth?

Initially rejected him, left him in the hospital.

What was the outcome of Robert Hoge's major surgery at age four?

Surgery successful, improved appearance.

Family discussions led to choice of declining surgeries.

Realized owning face involves accepting and appreciating it.

Family acceptance and support crucial for self-acceptance.

Individuals often struggle with owning their appearance due to societal pressures and influences from media and peers, as illustrated by Robert Hoge's personal journey of acceptance and self-realization despite facing rejection and bullying.
Robert Hoge's story highlights the transformative power of self-acceptance and choice in embracing one's unique appearance, showcasing the importance of recognizing and appreciating the life experiences reflected in one's face as a part of personal growth and ownership.

How did Robert Hoge's family initially react to his birth?
Initially rejected him, left him in the hospital.
What was the outcome of Robert Hoge's major surgery at age four?
Surgery successful, improved appearance.
How did Robert Hoge's family influence his decision about further surgeries as a teenager?
Family discussions led to choice of declining surgeries.
What realization did Robert Hoge have after visiting a studio and seeing a portrait of his face?
Realized owning face involves accepting and appreciating it.
How did Robert Hoge's family play a role in his journey towards self-acceptance?
Family acceptance and support crucial for self-acceptance.

00:00

Many individuals do not feel ownership of their faces due to societal influences like Hollywood, advertisers, and peers.
The speaker, Robert Hoge, shares his personal story of being born with facial deformities caused by a tumor.
Robert's mother initially rejected him after birth, refusing to connect with his face and leaving him in the hospital.
After a family discussion, Robert's siblings voted to bring him home, leading to his acceptance into the family.
Doctors proposed a major surgery for Robert at the age of four to improve his appearance for socialization.
Despite the risks, including a one in four chance of death, Robert's father initially opposed the surgery for appearance's sake.
Robert's mother eventually convinced his father to agree to the surgery, which was successful in making him look more human.
As a teenager, Robert faced bullying and teasing due to his appearance, leading to discussions about further surgeries.
Robert was given the choice at 14 to undergo another major operation to improve his appearance, with risks including potential blindness.
After a conversation with his family, Robert's brother's comment made him realize he had a choice in owning his face, leading him to decline further surgeries and embrace his uniqueness.

14:39

The narrator visits a studio and sees a portrait of their face, feeling that the artist has captured their pain and life experiences since age 14, making them realize that owning their face involves accepting and appreciating it, with the choice to embrace the love, life, and pain reflected in their own face.