Lifestyle
Wife Of The Jawless Man Says Trolls Accuse Her Of Cheating & Faking Feelings To Get Attention
“Getting to know Joe over time. I didn’t see his face anymore, I just saw his spirits.”
In 2020, Joseph and Vania Williams tied the knot as they are both madly in love. But as photos from the event emerged online, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the couple as they’re faced with backlashes from strangers who have much to say about Joseph’s condition.
41-Year-Old Joseph of Chicago had been born with an extremely rare condition called otofacial syndrome, which left him without a jaw or chin.
With such an appearance, he faced bullies and hate throughout his life and even found dating challenging because he struggled with low self-esteem and felt worthless. But as fate will have it, Joseph found love with Vania, 39, in 2019 and began to believe in himself.
Despite their visible love, the pair receive hate from strangers who allege Vania is faking her feelings to get attention and sympathy.
In an interview with Truly, Joseph described the hate they receive as nerve-wracking, noting that people also often say Vania can’t kiss him or is cheating on him. Other questions include how the two can have s*x, and some say they’re faking their marriage for attention. Thankfully, the pair sees the hate as clear as day.
Vania added: “When we go out together, it’s basically just staring, people pull out their phone sometimes recording or taking pictures, but they never say anything, just staring.”
Joseph wishes people would ask him what happened instead of acting ignorantly. The pair’s family has been supportive, but initially, Vania’s mom had concerns wondering how her daughter would have to provide Joseph with 24/7 care. So far, it isn’t the case, and he has been communicating through sign language, gestures, writing notes, and using his phones.
For food, Joseph eats by blended food and putting it through a tube into his stomach.
“I have a tube in my neck called a trachea, which helps me breathe. And I was taught sign language when I was two years old to help me communicate. However, since then I have also found other ways to help me communicate, such as making notes and typing into my phone.” At a couple of days old, when born, Joseph said his parents took him in multiple surgeries.
He had a bone & skin graft as doctors tried to construct a jaw for him, but his body rejected it as he grew.
He continued: “And I was also put up for adoption which led to me meeting my adopted family. Growing up was hard and being born like this has caused me many problems, but I have tried not to let it affect me. I can’t eat, speak or even breathe properly. I have a tube in my stomach which I can place blended food into, but this means that I have never tasted food.”
At the start of their relationship, Vania, who had never dated anyone with a disability before meeting Joseph, said she often lied and told people they were just friends because she was embarrassed and ashamed.
“Getting to know Joe over time. I didn’t see his face anymore, I just saw his spirits, his personality,” she alleged, adding that Joseph didn’t need her help with anything even though her family had thought he would need constant care. And despite the hate messages and constant stares, the couple says their relationship revolves around love and nothing else.
