Raffaele was born with a rare disease. Is called Treacher Collins and causes facial deformities, breathing and hearing problems. “It’s the one from the Wonder movie,” he explains as soon as we start talking. “As soon as I was born, my parents were told that my life would be short. Instead, from hospital to hospital my conditions stabilized and I grew up ».
Today Raffaele is 27 years old, has undergone 8 face surgeries and began to feel like all of us at the age of 19, thanks to a hearing aid.
“The biggest obstacle was the contempt of others. Bullying. In kindergarten the children ran away from me crying bitterly and this hurt my mother a lot. Over time my face has generated exaggerated reactions ». Then the offenses began: “Monster, alien, you don’t need a mask because you already have one on your face, deaf, crooked. I never said anything to the family as a kid because I didn’t want them to be talked about. I let off steam alone with the music closed in the bathroom, so that no one could notice. But I was wrong ».
After being bullied for years, Raffaele has decided to stop hiding. “I also thought about suicide, then a voice repeated to me that I had to tell my story. So I did it “. Raffale has decided to open up to the world through social media. “Until two years ago, on my pages I showed only one side of my face, the one less affected by the disease. I was afraid of being criticized. When I met TikTok I decided to make a video and talk about me ».
That tale went viral. “So I learned to discover myself and accept myself as I am. Proud of myself ». Alongside the support of many, there was no shortage of bad things. “Disability is not a limit. I believe that kindness is much stronger than meanness and indifference. This is why I always respond to insults by inviting reflection. Be kind ».
You can write us your story via Whatsapp here: +393472156843
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
