'Changing Faces'

The charity, Changing Faces writes on their website:

"We live in a culture where disfigurement is often seen as a medical “problem” that could/should be fixed by surgery or medical intervention. However, surgery alone cannot always remove a disfigurement and can sometimes lead to further complications. Changing Faces helps people to face the challenges of living with a disfigurement and equips them with the appropriate tools to build self-confidence and self-esteem."

We now know that surgery is only one facet of treating someone with facial or body disfigurements and, thanks to charities such as the UK's 'Changing Faces', the psychological needs of patients are being met. 

Of course, there was no such 'refined' cognitive therapy in Joseph's day. Medicine and psychotherapy back then was still very much in it's infancy and those of the medical profession were constantly on the look out for new, groundbreaking cases, on which to apply their skills. It sounds cold, but that's what was needed, to further the science.

I'm sure Merrick would have benefitted from,'Changing Faces'. All I know is, the services of such charities are, par excellence and indispensable.

Changing Faces website: http://www.changingfaces.org.uk/About-Us