admin
10-20-2006, 03:10 PM
Maxwell Maltz tells the story of a man who'd been severely injured while
attempting to rescue his parents from a fire. His heroic efforts proved to
be in vain, though. His morn and dad died in the burning house.
During his rescue attempt the fire had scorched his face and disfigured it.
He was so ashamed of his appearance after that he refused to allow
anyone-including his wife- to see his face.
For help, she went to Maltz, a plastic surgeon. "Not to worry," he assured
her, "I can restore his face."
Despite the good news, the wife still felt disheartened. Her husband had
always refused any medical treatment. Assuming he wouldn't change his mind,
she said to Maltz, "I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him! If
I can share in his pain, then maybe he will let me back into his life."
Maltz tried to mask his horror at the request. He refused to perform the
operation, but was so moved by this woman's love for her husband that he
went to visit her husband. Through closed door, he yelled, "I'm a plastic
surgeon. I want you to know that I can restore your face."
No reply.
"Please, won't you come out? At least let me see your face. At least talk to
me."
Silence.
Still speaking through a door, Maltz told the man of his wife's request.
"She wants me to mutilate her face in order to make her face like yours. She
hopes that you will then let her back into your life. That's how much she
loves you."
Ever so slowly the doorknob turned.
Maxie Dunnam
attempting to rescue his parents from a fire. His heroic efforts proved to
be in vain, though. His morn and dad died in the burning house.
During his rescue attempt the fire had scorched his face and disfigured it.
He was so ashamed of his appearance after that he refused to allow
anyone-including his wife- to see his face.
For help, she went to Maltz, a plastic surgeon. "Not to worry," he assured
her, "I can restore his face."
Despite the good news, the wife still felt disheartened. Her husband had
always refused any medical treatment. Assuming he wouldn't change his mind,
she said to Maltz, "I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him! If
I can share in his pain, then maybe he will let me back into his life."
Maltz tried to mask his horror at the request. He refused to perform the
operation, but was so moved by this woman's love for her husband that he
went to visit her husband. Through closed door, he yelled, "I'm a plastic
surgeon. I want you to know that I can restore your face."
No reply.
"Please, won't you come out? At least let me see your face. At least talk to
me."
Silence.
Still speaking through a door, Maltz told the man of his wife's request.
"She wants me to mutilate her face in order to make her face like yours. She
hopes that you will then let her back into your life. That's how much she
loves you."
Ever so slowly the doorknob turned.
Maxie Dunnam