I can't explain the number of doubts that I have gotten over the years when I tell people that I have a plastic skull.

Let me guess. If you didn't already know, you're already second guessing that statement? Understood. That is why I think it's finally time to make like a press release trying to convince everyone it's true. I haven't been able to find the paperwork anywhere, but I will continue to look till I can get all the facts. I'd like to know all of them as well. It is also near impossible to find anything on the internet about it. If I remember correctly, I was the first to have this type of surgery done. Without knowing the exact diagnosis (till I find the paper work) I wont be able to find anything online about it. But from my recollection and the stories told to me, it goes like this:

When I was born my skull was smaller then normal. This was going to prevent my brain from growing normally. The result that this was going to have was I was supposed to grow up as a vegetable. I am not sure that paraplegic is the word, because that deals more with the spinal cord, but it is basically the same as what could have happened.

To solve this, they cut out a section in the upper back part of my skull, and replaced it with some type of plastic piece. This would (and did) allow the brain to expand normally. One metaphor I have always used is like baking bread. When you bake bread, it expands considerably. Picture baking a loaf of bread inside a box that is just large enough to hold the bread at an uncooked state. Once in the oven, the bread will try to expand, but there is no room. Thus, deformities will occur and the bread will not cook properly. This is basically what was going to happen to me. Once my brain would start growing, it would start rubbing into the rigid skull, damaging sensors and doing permanent damage to my body.

I was only 10 months old at the time of surgery, so I don't remember any pain or anything along those lines. I remember my father telling me stories of looking into the room and seeing my scalp folded over my forehead, and how hard that was to watch from his point of view.

I have found out many small details over time about my recovery and how lucky I have been. When I was about 12, I was told how lucky I am to be able to grow hair down the middle of my head. I can't imagine how bad it would look with this 3 inch gap down the middle like a racing stripe. On my 18th birthday, I was told I am lucky to be alive. I found this as a major shock. Apparently since I was the first to have the operation, they didn't know exactly how long I will live afterwards. The doctor said I will be lucky to make it to 18, and enjoy an early adulthood.

Well, here I am. 21. I beat the system.

I have had several times throughout my life where I would get constant migraines, and the doctors were never able to explain why. I had what seemed to be a million MRI's and Cat Scans done on me, but nothing really ever showed up. I always thought it was linked to my plasto, but there's no hard evidence.

A few big headaches were worth living this long.

Note: I have found the paper work. To read the real story, click here

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