When a woman named Rusty Dennis from California gave birth to a baby boy on December 4, 1961, nothing raised a red flag. The little one, Rocky Dennis, resembled a perfectly healthy baby, until one day the family received shocking news which changed their lives forever. During a routine tonsillectomy, when Rocky was around two or three years of age, an X-ray technician had seen some irregularities in Rocky’s skull!
The boy was then taken to the UCLA Medical Center for testing when it was discovered that he had an extremely rare condition. Rocky was diagnosed with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, a sclerotic bone disorder that caused abnormal calcium deposits to push his eyes towards the edges of his head, while simultaneously twisting his nose out of shape. Rusty was told that her son won’t live past his seventh birthday.
They also said that he would likely lose his eyesight and would go deaf. But Rusty was there to teach him that no matter his condition, he could do anything he set his mind to. “I didn’t allow the doctors to talk him into death,” the mother told United Press International.“You know, what you believe works and he believed he could stick around as long as he wanted to.”Despite everyone telling her that he shouldn’t go to school, Rusty enrolled her son in a public school.
What’s most, he thrived and was an excellent student “They tried to say his intelligence was impaired, but it wasn’t true,” Rusty told People. “I think they wanted to keep him out of the classroom because [they thought] it would bother the other kids’ parents. “I taught him he could do anything he wanted to do. He didn’t believe in being blind: he read all the time,” Rusty reminisced.
“Most of the time, any problems or pain he had he was able to deal with on a psychic level.”Most of the students accepted his appearance, although there were also stares by complete strangers. Rocky had a normal childhood and did what most kids his age did. He delivered newspapers to his neighbors and even worked as a babysitter.
One of Rocky’s teachers, Barbara Silva, spoke of the first time he entered her classroom. She was convinced he was wearing a mask and as she was about to tell him to take it off, she approached closer and realized he wasn’t wearing any, it was his face.“Had I said what I was going to say to Rocky that first day, I think I would have gone to the principal’s office and resigned right there,” Barbara told Patch. “That would have been the end of my teaching career.
”Silva also recalled how fun Rocky was. He was aware some people were uncomfortable around him so he would say that straight after meeting them. “If anyone showed signs that his appearance made them uncomfortable, he would say, kind of matter-of-factly, ‘If I make you uncomfortable, you can move. But I can’t change my face,’” Barbara recalled Rocky telling a classmate. “It would be an icebreaker.
He’d put you at ease by addressing your obvious issue and saying, ‘It’s okay, I get it.'” He received his diploma from Sandburg Junior High School while dressed in a new suit. He also received a gold certificate that read “Rocky Dennis – Honors Student.” Rocky died tragically at the age of 17. He apologized to his mother one night, just days before his death, for being a bad child and for the way he was born.
When Rusty went into Rocky’s bedroom on October 3, 1978, she discovered him dead. “He was already gone…” Rusty explained to People. “I hugged him and bid him farewell, but he wasn’t there.” Anna Hamilton Phelan, a nurse working in the genetics units, met Rocky shortly before his death. It was the only time she ever spoke to him, but his life story sounded so intriguing that she decided to contact his mother to learn more about him. Her efforts resulted in a screenplay for the award-winning film Mask, which was based on Rocky Dennis’ life.
Rocky was played by Eric Stoltz, and Rusty was played by Cher. The film won an Academy Award for Best Makeup, and Cher was named Best Actress at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Cher told Parade Magazine in 1994, “You know, if Rocky Dennis had lived today, the doctors might have been able to help him.” “All a craniofacial wants is to be normal,” she continues. Rocky Dennis never let his physical deformity get in the way of his happiness and success. His life was brief but significant. He touched many people’s lives. May his soul rest in peace. Please SHARE Rocky’s story on Facebook with your family and friends!