“I felt something rubbing my hand, like the presence of God. I felt a sense of peace like everything was going to be OK.”
Billy Owen , cancer survivor
Billy Owen can put his finger in his mouth and pry it out of his eye socket . It ’s not something he was born with , but it ’s something he ’s encompass . And why would n’t he when his other option was dying ?
Billy Owen Gets A Life-Threatening Diagnosis
In 2009 Owen was a happy bike mechanic , married with a six - calendar month - old son , be in Oklahoma . But his life would soon take a drastic turn after being diagnosed with adenoidal cancer .
“ I had headaches and I could n’t take a breather because my correct anterior naris was totally plug , ” OwentoldHuffington PostOwen . The doctors ab initio think it was sinusitis , a very rough-cut and treatable condition where the naval handing over cavities become fire up . They gave him decongestant , but were ineffectual .
“ My married woman finally pushed me to see a specialist , ” he say .
Billy Owen, cancer survivor
On Feb. 13 , 2009 , Owen was diagnosed with sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma , which is a rare form of cancer in the adenoidal bodily cavity . By the time Billy Owen ’s cancer was diagnosed , it had spread so dramatically that he was give just a 10 pct opportunity of survival .
Most survivor of cancer have the neoplasm take away early on . But because of Owen ’s late diagnosis , the doctor had to remove half of his face for him to have any luck of endurance . This in include his right eye as well as the nervus and sinew from his face an in his nasal cavity .
Billy Owen was left with very little sense of smell , a dental photographic plate , and a goggle hole where his eye used to be . But he beat the odds and the cancer .
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Survival, But At A Price
Of course , the condition he was left in made it nearly impossible for him to resume life sentence as common . He had to quit his job as a mechanic because of the possible safety risk it could pose to customer . “ I can do it for me , but if another mortal pass because I did n’t see a idle bolt , I do n’t know what I ’d do , ” said Owen . There was also the hurt that his wife and son went through wondering whether Owen would endure or expire , and watch him going through such major operation .
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Owen went through a hard meter while recuperating in the infirmary after his surgery . But then , he said , “ I felt something itch my hand , like the presence of God . I feel a horse sense of peace treaty like everything was going to be OK . ”
Before his Crab , Owen say that he was living a unwarranted and unhinged life that include a lot of drinking . After , he noted that his son was the only one did n’t look at him differently . Reflecting on his kinfolk , he made the decision to do all he could to be there for them both physically and mentally .
Such a drastic living change can feel death like in its own agency . But instead of wallowing , Owen decided to embrace it .
A Positive Outlook And (Mostly) Happy Ending
He decided to show off the results of his mathematical process , pick up jobs that include playing a zombi in music television and moving-picture show , perform at preoccupied houses , telling his storyat the Venice BeachFreakshowin Los Angeles where his story of courage and electropositive intellection inspired the audience .
While there ’s an undeniable seismic disturbance constituent that comes with Owen ’s missing heart , Todd Ray , who execute the AMC seriesFreakshowsaid he thinks of Owen as the strongest humans alive . Though people may be initially draw in by the fact that you’re able to see into his skull , after hearing his story audiences are genuinely amazed .
As for Owen , his positive message is n’t just an human activity . He has said that his brush with death and his post - cancer life has brought him nigher to his mob .
Billy Owen has cite one downside to his missing eye : a phantom itch in the blank space where it used to be .
“ It ’s ruffianly when you get an itchiness in the corner of your eye and there ’s nothing to scratch . ”
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