Austin Niehus was born with Goldenhar syndrome. It’s a rare disease that is characterized by a craniofacial birth defect of the face and head. He is a teenager now and still bears many of the physical signs of the disease. He suffers from deformities of the ears, nose, lips, and mandible. You might think that Austin has learned to deal with his disease, but a lot of other people make it hard for him to live a normal life.
From the time he started school, Austin has been teased and bullied by his peers.
He just wanted a friend and craved social interaction. As time went on, he felt that chances of finding a real friend were slim. Still, his family encouraged him to continue to try to make friends.
Despite the bullying, Austin has a great personality, and his family says he is a pleasure to be around. He has never let his disease stop him from achieving his dreams. Even when things get hard, he has a positive attitude.
According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia:
“Goldenhar syndrome is a rare congenital condition characterized by abnormal development of the eye, ear, and spine. … It affects one in every 3,000–5,000 births. Children with Goldenhar syndrome are born with partially formed or totally absent ears, benign growths of the eye, and spinal deformities, such as scoliosis. Goldenhar syndrome may also affect the facial structure and other body organs, such as heart, kidney, lungs, and nervous system. In most cases, the deformity only affects one side of the body.”
Austin’s family knew that if anyone could relate to Austin and help him deal with the bullying, it would be someone with the same disease as him.
They arranged to meet up with a girl named Elena and her family.
Elena also has Goldenhar syndrome. She struggles with many of the same things as Austin. When Austin learned that Elena would be coming to meet him, he got really excited. In the video, he can be seen staring out the window waiting for them to arrive. He can be heard saying:
“They’re here. Oh my God! Here she comes, here she comes!”
The two teens finally meet and share a quick hug.
Austin’s family welcomes Elena’s family inside, and they all sit down and start talking. Elena and Austin are so excited to see each other than they can’t stop smiling.
The new friends get to enjoy a ski trip. Austin claims that he is excited about the trip because the two of them can just hang out and he doesn’t feel alone anymore. Elena and Austin are being featured on a TLC show called “Two in A Million.”
The show follows people who have rare conditions and who have found each other.
According to the TLC website:
“In each episode of TLC’s ‘Two in A Million,’ two people who share the same medical struggles meet and spend one week together, sharing hardships and incredible triumphs, visiting world-renowned doctors, and finding answers to important questions. This series follows the powerful journey of those who live with some of the world’s most unusual disorders and brings unique insight into the intimate journey of these extraordinary people. The connections they make are powerful beyond imagination.”
Now that Austin and Elena have found each other, they don’t ever have to worry about being alone again.
They can bond, share stories, and make memories with someone who truly understands them.
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