November 26, 2006
Heroes with a Thousand Faces
We received the following press release for this absolutely fascinating book, Heroes with a Thousand Faces. Some of the information and personalities presented in this new book are also highlighted in the musical Let's Face the Music previously profiled in an earlier blog entry.
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Imagine if we had to wear our imperfections like labels on our faces every day, all the time – in photos, at formal events, interviewing for a job, and meeting someone for the first time. What if there were no hiding our imperfections? No doubt we would struggle with feeling self-conscious and we would constantly wonder how we were being judged by others.
In her book Heroes with a Thousand Faces, writer Laura Greenwald introduces us to people who were born with severe facial deformities or whose faces have been changed forever because of injury or disease. Their stories are at once heartbreaking and hopeful. They teach us all the definitions of patience and perseverance.
One young woman, Melissa, has undergone forty-two surgeries in nineteen years to try to correct issues affecting her face since birth. After surgeries, she refused to look in the mirror for days. “She wouldn’t look in the mirror,” her family says, “because she wouldn’t know who was going to be there.” Today, Melissa advocates for education and understanding for people with facial deformities. “I wish parents would educate their children that we’re not all the same. I wish parents would tell children what’s wrong and not just tell them not to stare.”
From a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how prosthetic noses, acrylic eyes, and other replacement parts are made, to the headline-grabbing debates about facial transplantation, Laura Greenwald challenges her readers to look beyond physical appearances and to see the heroes within.
A portion of the author’s proceeds benefits programs to support people with facial differences.
Order Heroes with a Thousand Faces from BN.com or Amazon.com, or by contacting Strauss Consultants at 718.625.9382.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Laura Greenwald writes and edits medical publications. She is manager of physician and consumer communications for Cleveland Clinic.
Posted by pfa at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2006
New Bullying Book
We had a great inaugural event today, and Betsy is a simply wonderful speaker. While Betsy was here, she mentioned a book on bullying that has impressed her.
Help! I'm Being Bullied
Dr. Emily Lovegrove
http://www.bullyingdoctor.com/
Betsy said this book is primarily for teens and their parents, with alternating chapters written for each audience. It offers a range of strategies, with memory aids to help pull the ideas out when you need them.
While the book is strategies that are independent of the source of the type of bullying, Dr. Lovegrove's primary research and clinical experience has been with children with facial difference. Here is the research behind the book.
Lovegrove E, Rumsey N. Ignoring it doesn't make it stop: adolescents, appearance, and bullying. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2005 Jan;42(1):33-44. PMID: 15643925. Abstract
Posted by pfa at 04:57 PM | Comments (0)