Hello, all!
I've been through a few WEEKS of trying to come to grips with my lip surgery that (I consider) quite deforming.

It's been really a challenge and has even adversely affected my overall WILL TO LIVE. If I'm a freak, then I feel less motivated to get out in society- to "see" and "be seen".

I haven't even seen a single member of my family since my Sept 23 operation. The problem is, they haven't even responded AT ALL to my emails and phone calls letting them know what's going on.
Half of my bottom lip has been surgically removed, the upper has been removed for 1/2 the distance of the lower, and then turned "upside down" into its' place. IT'S AMAZINGLY HORRIBLE!!!! I have a scar from my nose to my chin, with a smaller one from center of bottom lip to chin- it's very swollen- I can hardly eat- and then, just the other day, the stitches holding it all together came out (with a little help from a fork), and now I have a 1/4 inch fissure at the center of my much mishapen lips!!

I feel like the science fiction guy who gets transformed into a blob of jelly...."I have no mouth and I must SCREAM"!!!!

I'm TERRIFIED to face the world like this and am currently trying to be flippant and "who cares" type of thing, but that is not AT ALL my true feelings.

I MUST KNOW how to approach my family and TELL them that I NEED support!!! We've never been close and when I was first dx'd in '03 I got exactly ONE visit from a family member....over a whole SUMMER of weekly chemo hospital stays!!!
I don't want to alienate them, but I need to let them know that I really NEED THEIR HELP at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

You guys have become my "real" family.

many thanks!
Gordon