My Face Is Paralysed So I Can't Smile | BORN DIFFERENT

A 24-YEAR-OLD who had to undergo four surgeries just to be able to smile is now embracing his differences. Austin Halls, from New Jersey, was born with Moebius syndrome, a rare condition that causes facial paralysis. Due to the condition, Austin cannot move his eyes left and right, and when he was younger, could not smile, completely close his mouth or pronounce the letters P and B. Between the ages of 10 to 18, Austin underwent four surgeries to alter his facial muscles to be able to smile. After his surgeries, Austin had to re-learn social cues to react with his face, and, according to him, it’s something he has “to consciously do now”. Despite his struggles due to his condition, Austin has become a musician, life coach, and advocate for the Moebius community - as well as representing the gay and disabled communities across social media. Austin told Truly: “Music has always been my therapy. When I have trouble expressing myself through facial expression, music is always such a powerful tool for that.”

Follow Austin here:
https://www.instagram.com/hallsy5555/
https://www.tiktok.com/@austinhalls
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1wuAlAwVjnnmeNJ1NiaMSF?si=ejnv38MsQ_-EI_cWvuOV5A&utm_source=copy-link