Robert Hoge, now 44 year-old, was born in the age where there were no scans to catch a glimpse of your baby’s face before the delivery; even if your child were to have any physical or facial abnormalities, you wouldn’t be able detect them until the moment you saw them with your own eyes. This is exactly what happened in the case of Hoge.

When Robert’s mother, Mary, saw her fifth child for the first time she was  shocked to the point that she even refused to take her child home.

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viaABC
His mother confessed to her sister that “he is so ugly.” While many people may quickly condemn this mother for speaking about her own son in such a mean manner, but seen from a more compassionate point, it’s also a situation where she had to deal with the shock of giving birth to a child with such debilitating physical problems. At that time, she simply didn’t want to take him home. 
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viaABCThe Australian

The family, of course, took little Robert home, even after suggestions that he be kept in an institution. Robert had to undergo several surgeries after his birth, one being the removal of the facial tumor that had grown roughly to the size of a tennis ball. He also was required to have both of his legs amputated to make room for prostheses.

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viaRobert Hoge
NTD Photo
Robert Hoge pictured with his four siblings. (Robert Hoge)
Robert explained to NPR how he used to respond to other children’s awkward questions pointing out his deformities…