We all have characteristics we don’t like about ourselves, but in most cases, we’re our own worst critic, and other people don’t make the matter worse. Unfortunately for Lauren Whitt, who was born with a large jaw, bullies treated her so poorly that she’s still recovering from the trauma.
Additionally, her large chin, which she had been born with, was causing her intense oral pain and required extensive dental work to align her teeth. The taunting and tormenting got so bad that she had to leave her high school to complete her schoolwork online.
She was called “witch” and “ugly” by students in the halls. She even tried changing schools before going the online route, but at the new school, the bullying was just as bad. It’s no way for anyone to go through life, let alone someone suffering from a medical issue.
She didn’t want surgery when she was made aware of her condition at age 12, but after the bullying took its toll on her happiness and even her will to live, she reconsidered later in life. Eight years later, she had the surgery which entailed breaking her jaw in two places, 36 screws, and a bone graft from her chin.
Now she’s thrilled with the way she looks, and the lisp that her condition caused her is now gone. She recalls, “I could not live life like that any longer. It was making me miserable. I waited until I was an adult to get the surgery because I did not want to go through something so painful as a kid.”
Even preparing for the surgery months out was difficult. “Preparing for it was one of the most difficult parts,” she said. “The Invisalign caused even more pain and made it nearly impossible for me to chew. I lost eight pounds and before the surgery, and I was already thin.”
Her recovery wasn’t easy, but it led to a place that was free of bullying or harassment, making it worth it. How extensive was the surgery? “My surgeon told me that my underbite was the most severe he had ever seen,” Whitt revealed. “He said that this was one of the most complicated surgeries of his career.”
In fact, her initial bone graft caused an infection, meaning she had to undergo another one. Then, that one wasn’t successful, forcing her to undergo the procedure a third and finally successful time. The trauma to her gums resulted in a dead tooth that need to be cut out of her mouth.
She’s recovering nicely, but not out of the woods yet! “It’s going to be pretty cool when I’m finally able to eat a burger again without cutting it up,” she joked. Hopefully, that time isn’t too far off.
Even amid the pain, she couldn’t be happier about the results, and is preaching its benefits to anyone who will listen. It’s been my most awful and most rewarding experience so far,” she said. “Anyone considering this surgery should do it because it can change your life.”