Boy Taunted by Walmart Cashier for His Face That Abruptly Began to Cave at 6 - His Twin Comforts Him

• A Walmart cashier taunted a young boy about his face, which is curved and caved in on one side.
• Though the boy was hurt, his twin brother, who has always been by his side, managed to comfort him.
• The boy used to look identical to his twin brother until he started experiencing facial pain and cramps at the age of 6.

When Nebraska natives Lukas Caldwell and his twin brother Ben Caldwell were born, the boys experienced happy-go-lucky childhoods until Lukas' life changed when they turned six. Lukas' facial features started to become markedly different than his brother's, making him look entirely different.

As soon as his parents started to notice some discoloration on his face, they grew increasingly worried and began taking him to see a series of doctors to find out what was going on. The young boy would suffer from facial cramps, pain, migraines, and poor vision.

Unfortunately, Lukas' turmoil didn't end with his physical symptoms, as he would get relentlessly ridiculed at school. The now-adolescent recalled how bullies would make fun of him:

"The other kids would call me names like, 'half face.' They would also insult my appearance and call me ugly, causing me to develop anxiety and insecurities which I still deal with today."

Lukas also revealed how his torment was not confined only to the classroom space and, in fact, would follow him wherever he went. Remembering another moment in which his self-esteem was impacted, he spoke about an incident when he was nine when he was standing in a check-out line at Walmart.

Upon reaching the front of the line, a Walmart cashier began to laugh at him. Then she proceeded to tell him that his face looked funny and asked him what happened to it. Disheartened and hurt, Lukas could not think of anything to say, so he kept quiet.

Why Lukas' Face Caves in on One Side

Lukas was diagnosed with Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS), which is a rare condition that causes the depletion of soft tissue in the face over time. The ailment only affects one in every group of 250,000 people and is characterized by facial bones becoming brittle and changing in form in time as the fat and muscle in the face shrink.

In an effort to try and rectify the damage that the condition has caused to his facial appearance, Lukas has undergone a total of four surgeries. His journey started after his dermatologist found out what was causing the discoloration that started developing when he was a child.

On Lukas' Instagram account, there are an array of endearing pictures of himself and Ben getting up to all sorts of fun twin sibling activities.

A biopsy was conducted, and the diagnosis came back conclusive. The series of treatments and surgeries Lukas had to endure prohibited him from experiencing a normal childhood as opposed to his twin brother. He recalled having to leave school countless times as a result of his diagnosis:

"When I was in third grade, I had to leave school twice a week to revive UV therapy at a dermatology clinic. Around this same time, I left school several times a week to receive IV steroid infusions."

Outside of the initial four surgeries, he has had two additional reconstructive surgeries to attempt to restore facial symmetry. One of the reconstructive operations included surgery on his jaw to enable him to chew food on both sides of his mouth.

According to the trajectory and patterns of the disorder, the ailment is more commonly found in females. Additionally, a typical case usually involves the slacking of the left side of one's face. In the case of Lukas, it's the right side of his face. However, in extremely rare cases of PRS, the symptoms can end up affecting both sides of the face.

Though the exact causes of the syndrome are unknown, a cohort of medical professionals theorizes that it happens as a result of one's immune system essentially attacking itself, causing damage to soft facial tissue. Others also believe that the disorder is genetic, but this theory appears to lack some basis, as Ben does not share the same condition.

Lukas' Twin Brother Ben Supports Him and Stands by His Side

Having to endure the ridicule and mocking that comes with his disorder is no easy feat for Lukas. However, he is lucky enough to have his supportive twin, Ben, by his side at all times. Of Ben's role in his life, Lukas said his brother is "one of my strongest supporters."

Regarding whether or not Lukas feels a twinge of jealousy for his brother who isn't plagued by PRS, Lukas said he looks to his brother as a source of inspiration. Seeing Ben's unaffected face provides him with a sense of comfort, reminding him of what his face would look like had he not been diagnosed with his disorder.

The two boys are as thick as thieves and do almost everything together, from attending prom and going to the same college to celebrating holidays and momentous milestones. Ben remains Lukas' fierce protector and source of comfort whenever his brother needs him.

On Lukas' Instagram account, there are an array of endearing pictures of himself and Ben getting up to all sorts of fun twin sibling activities. One post is a reel of a day in the life of the twin boys, showing everything they usually do on a typical day: playing basketball; working out at the gym; eating meals together, and of course, as is generally typical with millennials, gaming. The caption of the reel read:

"How is everyone doing today?"

Lukas has learned to work past his self-esteem and confidence issues, adopting a positive mindset. He admits it is not always easy, but he remains grateful to have his twin brother, Ben, to help him along the way.

Click here to read a similar story of a young boy who was poked fun at due to his face but became famous years later.

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