[jcoop24]

Joseph Merrick — known as the Elephant man — shocked the world in the 1800’s with his disfiguring disease. Now known as Neurofibromatosis — a genetically-transmitted disease in which nerve cells grow massive tumors occurring in as many as 1 in 3,000 children — several modern day ‘Elephant Men’ have brought this disorder to the limelight, becoming today’s heroes, with their tales of hope, determination, inner strength, spirit and inspiration.
James O’Neal compares himself to the Elephant Man, painfully aware that his deformity shocks people. Neurofibromatosis has left his face horribly disfigured — but that could soon change with surgeries to reconstruct the Kirkland, Washington man’s face.

“I just tell people this is who I am, it’s the way I am. If you don’t like me, you don’t like me.” he said.

James has lived with his disability since birth, but the tumors stopped growing when he did, and surgery would rid him of the deformity for good.
While many afflicted with this disease would rather hide and become a recluse, for 7 years James has proudly worked the cash registers at the local Safeway store in Kirkland.

What to shoppers there say? His customers don’t like him — they absolutely love him and call him an inspiration.

“He is an amazing man and we love him. He’s the kind of person that makes your day.” said customer Aubrey Richins.

However, all of them say they were stunned at first when they saw his disfigured face. “I have to admit I was a little taken back, but when I walked through his line I felt this spirit come over me, this man is out here, not hiding.” said Cindy Peay.

James O’Neal’s story inspired Katie Knopf — a shopper at the store who saw him for “the person he is inside” — to launch a massive charity campaign to give him a new face. Being a preexisting condition that he was born with, his insurance company won’t cover the costs of difficult and extensive surgeries or recovery.

Katie started a website asking for donations for reconstructive surgery. “We want to change his life.” she said. Her ardent efforts have motivated James’ employers at Safeway to kick in the first $10,000. As of this writing, her website reports to have received more than $30,000 in donations.

“James is our employee, he is one of us and we absolutely think the world of him.” said Cherie Myers, Safeway’s director of public and government affairs. “This is just a bonus, this our bonus to him. He never asked for it, he’s never said ‘woe is me.’ He’s proud to be who he is.”

UPDATE:(Last 2 pics after the surgery)
James “Neal underwent surgery last month to remove a huge mass of tumors that had disfigured his face for nearly 30 years and became a “new man,” thanks to mass support from locals and online well-wishers which raised $240,000 in contributions.
“Looks good, I like it. It’s perfect.” O’Neal said, after seeing his face without bandages or stitches. “Perfect. Oh, yeah!”

“I’ve never had that kind of support before.” O’Neal added. “I’m overwhelmed. I didn’t think it would be this quick.”

O’Neal marveled at his left ear after the surgery which was in its right place, no longer dangling from the mass of tumors, as well as his straightened nose and chin.

Dr. Peter Neligan, director of the Center for Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center, performed the operation free of charge.

But the surgery was risky. Twice Neligan had to stop the operation because O’Neal was losing too much blood — 28 units of blood were needed during the operation, although the body only holds 8 units.
Rather than receiving a full-face transplant, O’Neal opted for a less radical operation to “debulk” his tumors, which removes most of the tissue but leaves some behind.

He will undergo a second surgery in another 6 months to remove tumors from his neck and minor procedures every 5 years should keep further tumor growths from engulfing his face once again.

James has taken the events of the past year in stride although he sometimes can’t believe how strongly the local and global community came together to help him.

“It’s not going to change my personality or nothing.” O’Neal said. “I think I inspire a lot of people just being out working.”

[StiffyWood]

Good for him, great story!

[jcoop24]

Yeah it was nice how all those people raised money for his surgery!!

[wickedqueenwicker]

It looks like half his face has melted. Cool story, though.

[LittleNightmare]

[alphawolf15]

[kungfu]

brave man

[dishonerd]

i want to see him talk

[DEWBZ]

"blah goo blllah dooo bleeeh bloooh tee poo peee poopoo"

-james o'neil

[Sadisticfucker]

Good to see that ghastly mole removed from his right temple. That thing was unsightly.
Now he is a very handsome man carving it up on the dating circuit.