The girl who can’t smile: How a rare disorder became a young woman's ‘greatest gift’
Fox News
Tayla Clement, 26, was born with a rare disorder that made it impossible to smile — but she says she is grateful for it. Clement shared her experience with Fox News Digital.
Moebius occurs when a baby’s facial nerves are underdeveloped. The primary effects are facial paralysis and inhibited eye movement, but the condition can also cause difficulty with speech, swallowing and chewing, according to Johns Hopkins. "As an 11-year-old girl, I thought, if I could just smile, I would have friends and wouldn’t get bullied anymore." "This is a complicated and specialized procedure." "I just chose to believe in myself — and that I was destined for something bigger." Intensive therapy played a big part in her recovery, she said. Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
"The syndrome affects my sixth and seventh cranial nerve, so it's essentially like facial paralysis," Clement told Fox News Digital in an interview.
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