A man has been left unable to smile after being born with a rare condition.
Atholl Mills, 24, from Scotland, was diagnosed with cystic hygroma at birth - a fluid-filled sac that results from a blockage in the lymphatic system.
Due to the nature of his condition, he had to have surgery as soon as he was born, and his parents had to say their goodbyes as his chances of survival were low.
But now - after countless operations - he is defying the odds and living a successful, independent life.
On-going: His condition caused his left ear to grow into a different shape and size, which meant that he had to undergo another surgery in 2007
Defying the odds: Atholl Mills, 24, from Scotland, was diagnosed with cystic hygroma at birth - a fluid-filled sac that results from a blockage in the lymphatic system
Difficult start: Mr Mills pictured shortly after his birth, which saw him whisked away into the operating theatre for a gruelling five-hour procedure
'My mum was told at one of her scans that there was something wrong.
'She was offered the opportunity to abort only me and keep my twin sister, but my mum decided against that. She always knew that giving me up was never an option for her.
'When I was born my parents had a couple of minutes with me before I was rushed to hospital and was told that my chances of survival were very slim.'
During a five-hour operation, doctors had to cut from the right side of his neck round to the left side. They also cut his left facial nerve to remove more of the cysts; this resulted in him developing facial palsy, a condition that causes a permanent weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles.
Over the years he has faced negative reactions to his look which resulted in him developing so much anxiety, that he would lock himself up in his house, afraid to be mocked by strangers.
He has been called names like a ‘half-chewed apple’, ‘disabled boy’, ‘Dumbo’ and he has been called ‘freak’ on a train.
'It was very difficult; being young I didn’t really have a concept that anything was wrong with me but as I got older, I began to realise that there was something different about me and that was hard to deal with.'
'I spent a lot of my childhood wishing that I was either someone else or that I would wake up one day and everything would just be fixed.'
A mother's love: Mr Mills pictured here as a baby with his mother, who refused to take medical advice and abort her son - a decision which proved to be wise
Difficulties: Mr Mills pictured when he was around two-years-old following one of many procedures to alleviate the cysts growing in his face
'Living in a small village meant that bullying didn’t really happen for me and everyone was really accepting. But venturing out further often meant that I was stared at or pointed at.
'It impacted my confidence a lot. It still does today because it really is an ongoing battle. There are good days and bad days.'
His condition caused his left ear to grow into a
