Alex Martin is my name.  I am ten years old.  I live with my family in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana; I have two brothers and three sisters (two older, three younger).

I also have facial deformities (I refuse to say facial differences; that sounds stupid).  I was born with a condition called Apert's; it caused my skull to form differently; because of it, my eyes are wider apart than most people, and I look different than them.

Believe it or not, I used to look a lot different; I had surgery when I was very small, to fix my face.  That part wasn't fun, but the best part about being in the hospital was I got to have lots of ice cream, once I was able to eat again.

I also liked my nurses and my doctors; they were very nice to me.

I may have more surgery in the future, but for now, I'm doing great.  No problems at all.  I can play, run around, act like any other normal little boy.

I just entered the fifth grade at L'Evangeline Elementary School; Mme. Broussard is my teacher.  I plan on doing well again this year; I have always loved school.

When I am not at school or at the hospital having surgery,  I like to climb trees, play with my brothers and sisters, as well as my friends, play with our coondog, "Trail Mix", go to Cajun music festivals (we go to the big one here in Breaux Bridge in May; it's the Crawfish Festival; it's a lot of fun!!  All that crawfish!! YUM!!!), and go to Mass every Sunday.

We're Catholic.  We kids also have catechism every Saturday, in the morning.

I don't like it when other kids make fun of me; I can't help how I look.  It's how I happened to be born; it's what God willed for me.  I just wish people could learn to accept me and not just see my funny-looking face; I may have a facial deformity, but I am not a monster!  I'm just a kid, just like you!

I gotta run.  Gotta take a shower, then get dressed, eat breakfast, and then go to Mass by nine.  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Alex saying goodbye!  God bless!

~Love, your new pal in Louisiana, Alex Joq (Jacques) Martin, aged 10.