Brain damage, bullying and anorexia

Fighting back - How orthodontic treatment helped a girl recover from brain damage, bullying and anorexia

A young girl has had her life turned round after orthodontic treatment and in revealing her heart rending story has a won her prize along with a new lease of life.

At the tender age of two, a tragic accident changed Kayleigh Wilson’s life forever. After a bookcase fell on her, her skull was smashed and tiny bone fragments ended up embedded in the front of her brain.  Kayleigh had life saving surgery to remove the bone fragments, but sadly she was left with brain damage of the frontal lobe.

Kayleigh describes her childhood as “a dark place inside my head”. Targeted as the freak by her school mates, Kayleigh had to endure the painful taunts of “Brain Buck”, stating every time she heard those words she “died a little more inside.”  Kayleigh was told by her bullies that if she cut herself with a piece of glass, she could be accepted into their gang.  As she graphically described in her entry to the British Orthodontic Society’s Against the Odds competition “my face, neck and wrists were slashed that day.” It was after this that Kayleigh also developed anorexia “I couldn’t bear to be fat on top of everything else” and developed an aversion to going outside, fearful that everyone would think she was ugly. As she put it “I hated myself, so I hid myself away.”

Looking for a way to overcome her aversion to her own appearance her mother arranged an orthodontic appointment.  At first Kayleigh was fearful, knowing the orthodontist would have to look at her, however she soon realised “he was a nice man who wanted to help me.” Dr Raja Manesh based in the West Lothian area of Scotland put fixed braces on her top and bottom teeth, which were gradually moved over a period of months until they were in a position both Kayleigh and Dr Manesh were happy with.

The first time Kayleigh saw her new teeth unveiled on the removal of her braces, she was lost for words. Finally, she felt pretty, and the proud owner of a smile she had always dreamed of.  Kayleigh says that this is the beginning of an amazing new life which has transformed her confidence as much as it has her smile.

View Kayleigh in the Gallery

 

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