A mental health worker says bullies called him “cyclops” because of a rare condition that left him with one eye.
Oliver Bromley was born with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder causing benign tumours to grow on nerves throughout the body.
The condition eroded his skull and eventually cost him his right eye.
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The 44-year-old says children are “cautious” around him and he was targeted by bullies in school.
“When you look different, people treat you differently,” Oliver, from Surrey, told Need To Know.
“At school, I was called all sorts of names, including cyclops, who is the one-eyed creature in greek mythology.
“Like any child, there were moments of confusion and uncertainty, especially as I became more aware that I looked different.”
But Oliver says he was grounded by his Christian faith and a fiercely supportive family.
He said: “I was incredibly blessed to grow up in a loving, faith-filled family who constantly reminded me that I was created with purpose and value.”
“My parents and grandparents helped shape my self-confidence from a young age.
“They taught me that my worth was never defined by my appearance, but by who I was inside and by God’s love for me.
“My grandmother, in particular, used to say to me, ‘wake up every morning, know who you are, and carry on’.
“Those words stayed with me and became a foundation for my life.
“As I grew older, I learned to truly accept myself, not by ignoring the challenges, but by facing them with faith and courage.
“Over time, I realised that what other people think about us is not our business.
“What matters is how we see ourselves and how we choose to live.
“Today, I try to pass that message on to others.
“I encourage people to love themselves, to embrace who they are, and to never let fear, stigma, or opinion hold them back.
“My journey has taught me that confidence comes from knowing your identity, trusting in God, and walking forward with purpose.”
Oliver lives with his wife Bridget and while many strangers are kind, he still faces stares and whispers.
One myth he is desperate to debunk is that neurofibromatosis can be “caught”.
He said: “Many people are kind, respectful, and genuinely supportive, and I’m grateful for that.
“I’ve met strangers who have gone out of their way to encourage me or thank me for speaking openly about neurofibromatosis.
“However, there have also been difficult moments.
“I’ve experienced staring, whispering, and sometimes people making assumptions about me before they’ve even spoken to me.
“In the past, I’ve been asked insensitive questions, and I’ve even been asked to leave public places because of how I look.
“I’ve seen people move away from me or avoid sitting near me, as if my condition were something to be afraid of.
“I wish more people understood that neurofibromatosis is not contagious.
“You cannot catch it by being near me.
“It’s a genetic condition.
“Those experiences are painful, and they stay with you.
“At the same time, they’ve strengthened my resolve.
“Instead of allowing those moments to define me, I’ve chosen to use them as motivation to educate others and challenge stereotypes.
“They remind me why awareness and understanding are so important.
“I try to respond with grace and confidence.
“I know who I am, I know my worth, and I don’t allow other people’s reactions to determine my value.
“If anything, these experiences have reinforced my commitment to helping create a more compassionate and inclusive society for everyone who looks different.”
Oliver says his parents started to notice changes in his face when he was a child.
As he went into his teens, he was forced to have multiple reconstructive surgeries and craniotomies, a neurosurgical procedure where a portion of the skull is temporarily removed to access the brain for treating tumours.
He added: “It has been a lifelong journey of medical treatment, resilience, and learning to live confidently despite the challenges.
“Living with plexiform neurofibromas has shaped much of my life, but it has also strengthened my determination to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and show that a diagnosis does not define your worth.”
