Rare disease took away one eye, people used to call him ‘creepy demon’, now this person made the world cry with his story!

The meaning of beauty in the world is often determined by external appearances. But there are some people, whose life teaches us that the real strength and identity is not hidden in the facial structure, but in the strength of mind and unwavering faith. The story of 44 year old Oliver Bromley, resident of Surrey, Britain, is also similar, who has created a distinct identity for himself amidst a rare disease and the taunts of the society. Oliver Bromley is a mental health activist, but his life has been full of difficulties. Recently he made the world cry by narrating his story. Oliver was born with a rare genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis. This is a condition in which non-cancerous tumors start growing on the nerves of the body. In Oliver’s case, the disease gradually damaged the bones in his skull and resulted in him losing his right eye.

This physical loss not only changed his face but also made his childhood extremely challenging. While sharing his childhood memories, Oliver says that when you look different from others, the world’s perspective towards you changes. During his school days he was called obscene names. The children called him ‘Cyclops’, who is considered to be a giant, scary demon with one eye in Greek mythology. ‘As a child, that time was full of confusion and uncertainty,’ says Oliver. I started realizing that I didn’t look like other kids and that’s why I was being targeted. However, despite all these difficulties, Oliver never broke. Oliver says that his parents and grandparents instilled in him the confidence from childhood that his worth is not determined by his face, but by his character and love for God.

His grandmother often told him, ‘Get up every morning, know who you are and just keep moving forward.’ These words became the basis of Oliver’s life. As Oliver grew up, he learned to face his challenges. He realized that what other people think about us is none of our business. Today Oliver is living a happy life with his wife Bridget. However, even today when he walks out on the street, people stare at him or whisper among themselves. Oliver tells that many times he was misbehaved in public places. People were hesitant to sit near him, as if his disease was contagious. To break this stereotype, Oliver is now spreading awareness. He explains that neurofibromatosis is not an infectious disease, which can be caught by touch. This is completely genetic.

Oliver says, ‘Such experiences are painful and stay with you, but these experiences have made me stronger. I decided that I would not let these moments overwhelm me, but would instead use them to educate people. During his teenage years, Oliver had to undergo several complex surgeries and craniotomy (skull surgery). It was a physically and mentally tiring process for him, but he never gave up. Today, as a mental health activist, he inspires others not to let their fears and the opinions of others come in the way of their success. Oliver Kay says, ‘Know your identity, trust in God and live with your head held high.’ Today he is not only fighting his disease, but is also trying to create an inclusive environment in the society for those people who, for whatever reason, look different from others.