Teen boy born without ears or cheekbones due to a rare condition had 30 operations to help… including having his jaw broken DAILY to lengthen it
Brave Ashley Carter is speaking out about Treacher Collins Syndrome ahead of the release of a new film
AN UPCOMING Hollywood blockbuster tells the story of a young boy with a facial disfigurement who overcomes the taunts of playground bullies.
Wonder, which hits cinemas in December, draws many parallels to the life of 17-year-old Ashley Carter.
The teen, from Taunton, Somerset, lives with Treacher Collins Syndrome, affecting the development of the bones in his bones and face.
He has had more than 30 operations over the years, including distraction surgery which involved breaking his jaw every day to lengthen it.
As the protagonist of Wonder also has the same condition, Ashley explains that the concept of the movie is very close to his reality.
He told : "Watching those scenes, I understand what he was going through, because when I was younger, I felt the same.
Ashley has since been moved to a difference class to avoid the cruel classmates.
Even though his confidence has been left shattered, he has managed to find his voice and speak out about living with Treacher Collins syndrome.
He said: "In one powerful scene in the film, Auggie is told 'you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out'.
"I’ve realised that’s true. So I’ve chosen to use my visibility as a platform to help others."