A Smile to Inspire

There are people every day who amaze me. Take, for example, Gabby Giffords – a woman who has overcome so much yet continues to smile and look for the positive despite all that lay ahead of her. I think of doctors who continually push the envelope to advance modern medicine, and the nurses who care for patients everyday and never lose compassion. And the men and women in the military, who literally put their lives on the line to preserve the freedoms that we have, are incredible human beings.

When I hear about someone like this I try to pay attention, maybe learn a thing or two, and let them inspire me.

This week, my inspiration came in the form of a cute little 6-year old redhead with a crooked smile.

When my niece Lydia was an infant, she didn’t smile like every other baby. She had this adorable little expression that she made where one side of her mouth turned up, as though she was smirking at you. As she got older, my sister Jocelyn and her husband David took her to a doctor at Mass Eye and Ear who diagnosed this very rare condition that she had: she was missing the seventh facial nerve. Apparently what this tiny nerve does is thread through your eardrum, giving you the ability to smile.

It’s something we all take for granted. That is, unless you can’t do it.

Now, any other child may seem shy or withdrawn having such a pronounced facial characteristic – but not Lydia. Far from a shrinking violet, she has been the belle of the ball from the time she could talk. And the moment you notice that her smile is different, your attention turns to the twinkle in her eye and you’re drawn in by the hilarious story that she’s telling.

This week, that little girl underwent a seven-hour “Gracilis Transplant” surgery in Boston where the doctors removed a muscle, artery and nerve from her leg and implanted it in her face. This miraculous procedure should correct her smile once and for all. Rather than cry or fear the operation, Lydia played it to her advantage. Last week, she stood up in front of her kindergarten class and after telling them that she would be having this surgery, she explained to them, “See, your smiles go like this” (she used her fingers to turn both sides of her mouth up) “And my smile goes like this.”

So much for shy and withdrawn.

I was never sure if she became so outgoing and confident in order overcome her smile or if she was saddled with this because she was one of the few kids who could handle being different.

Either way, that little monkey has taught this aunt of hers a thing or two about how to be self-assured and never apologize for who you are. Instead, stand up in front of a crowd, point out your differences and smile. Whether it’s crooked or not, people will pay attention to how you wear it; confidence is beautiful and perfect every day of the week.

Just ask Lydia.