'I tried to take my own life six times over rare condition that means I can’t smile'
"I’ve spent many years hating my smile, wishing I had a 'normal' smile, wishing I just didn’t exist because that seemed easier than being alive.”But Tayla underwent facial reanimation surgery aged 12 in the hope of restoring voluntary movement in her face.
Tayla said: "Things really began to get worse. I had to go back and start a new school with a really swollen face.Tayla had surgery at the age of 12 to try and give her a smile. But it didn't work, and only made the bullying worseTayla said: "I had to go back and start a new school with a really swollen face""I got laughed at. Kids would scream in my face and say that they were scared of me but then would run away laughing, I felt super isolated.
"I would be the only person with my hand up in class and the teacher would just look at me and then look away and not pick me to ask a question. "I would always bring stuff for everyone else’s birthday so I was excited to be the centre of attention but when I turned up to school no one made a fuss about me."Everything that happened did play a lot on my self-confidence and my self-worth."She attempted to take her life six times before she found exercise as a coping mechanism.took a hit, decided to give shot put a try - and was a natural.
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