Lucy Grealy's journey began at the age of nine when she was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a bone cancer that resulted in a tumor in her jaw.

Her initial encounter with chemotherapy was harrowing, characterized by severe vomiting that persisted for weeks, yet she recounts this experience with a fairy-tale quality despite its grim reality.

In her memoir, 'Autobiography of a Face,' Grealy reflects on the harsh realities of her treatment, including surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, often through the naive lens of a child.

Following her treatment, Grealy faced a dramatic change in her appearance due to the removal of half her jaw, which significantly altered her facial structure and led to feelings of inadequacy and self-consciousness.

Grealy's narrative delves into the duality of beauty and identity, illustrating that while external appearance holds considerable weight in society, it is ultimately irrelevant to one's personal worth.

As a poet and keen observer of human appearance, Grealy offered candid descriptions of those around her, including her oncologist, Dr. Woolf, whose unsettling appearance frightened her.

Despite undergoing more than thirty reconstructive surgeries and achieving literary success, Grealy grappled with her identity and self-perception, which contributed to a lifelong struggle with addiction.

'Autobiography of a Face' has become an essential text in academic circles, celebrated for its unflinching honesty regarding the intersection of physical appearance and social acceptance.

Originally published in 1994 as an essay titled 'Mirrorings,' the memoir gained acclaim and is set to be reissued for its thirtieth anniversary in December 2024.

Grealy passed away in 2002 at the age of thirty-nine from a heroin overdose, leaving behind a complex legacy that continues to resonate in discussions about beauty, illness, and self-acceptance.