The Face of Faith: A Seat with Thomas Tilson
What does it mean to "face yourself" when you were born with one of the most severe facial deformities in history? This week on In The Writer's Chair, host Lana McAra pulls up a chair with Thomas Tilson, a man whose life began with a medical death sentence and evolved into a 74-year testament to resilience, music, and divine intervention.
Thomas discusses his memoir, Facing Myself: A Life’s Journey from Tragedy to Finding God’s Love, detailing a path that includes 65 reconstructive surgeries, a miraculous voice in a dark car, and the strength it takes to move from being a medical "guinea pig" to a beloved father and grandfather.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Groundbreaking Beginnings: How Thomas became a subject for the nation’s foremost reconstructive surgeon at Northwestern, undergoing pioneering procedures that helped shape modern plastic surgery.
- The Snickering Classroom: A candid look at the challenges of growing up in the 1950s, dealing with speech therapy, and the childhood rebellion that led to homelessness at age 16.
- The Eisenhower Expressway Miracle: Thomas shares the "darkest moment" of his life—a planned suicide attempt at age 22—and the mysterious voice that stopped him in his tracks.
- Pro-Bowling & Proposals: The heartwarming (and persistent!) story of how he met his wife of 51 years and the 10% risk they took to start a family.
- Garage Rock & Christian Chords: How music became a form of therapy and expression, leading from a top-rated 1960s garage band to his current work in contemporary Christian music.
- Writing for the Next Generation: Why Thomas turned his private journal into a memoir to ensure his children and grandchildren understood the depth of his journey.
Instructive Insight: The Impact of Groundbreaking Surgery
Thomas was born in 1951, a time when many of the procedures we take for granted today were experimental. His surgeon offered his services for free in exchange for the right to document Thomas’s progress in medical journals.
- Reconstruction: Thomas was born without a nose, lips, or a jawbone.
- The Speech Challenge: He underwent decades of therapy to learn to speak without the standard physical structures of the mouth.
- The Legacy: Today, Thomas’s case serves as a historical benchmark for surgical success, proving that complex craniofacial deformities do not limit a person’s ability to lead a full, expressive life.
About Thomas Tilson
Thomas Tilson is an author, musician, and retired computer programmer. Born in Chicago, he has spent his life defying the odds. His memoir, Facing Myself, was written to encourage others facing impossible difficulties to listen for the guidance that can direct their path. He is a member of the Royal Palm Literary Award community and continues to write and record music for his YouTube channel.
Connect with Thomas:
- Book: Find Facing Myself: A Life’s Journey from Tragedy to Finding God’s Love on Amazon.
- Music: Search for Thomas Tilson on YouTube to hear his contemporary Christian songs and his comedic country hit, "On a Beach."
- Direct Contact: Reach out to Thomas via email at ttilson38@gmail.com.
Connect with Lana McAra:
- Podcast: In The Writer's Chair
- Publisher: Vendela Publishing
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