ccawonderkids
children’s craniofacial association: empowering and giving hope to individuals and families affected by facial differences
look different. I just want to
be accepted like everyone
else, even though I look
different.
How many surgeries
have you had? What’s
the worst thing about
surgery? I have had 28
surgeries. The worst thing
about surgery is waking up
from it and the recovery
time.
Have you ever been
bullied? What did you
do? No.
Has the popularity of
Wonder changed your
life? In what way? Yes,
I liked all of the cards I
received. It makes me feel
special.
samantha klinger
Age: 14
Craniofacial syndrome: Apert syndrome
State: Ohio
What is your favorite
activity? Riding my
4-wheeler
What do you want to be
when you grow up? A
babysitter
Who is your hero and
why? My Aunt Suebee,
because we do lots of
things together.
What is your favorite
school subject? Math
Do you have any pets? If
so, how many and what
types? Yes, 3 cats and 1
dog
What is your favorite
color? Blue
What is your favorite
movie? Max
What is your favorite
holiday? Christmas
Do you have any
siblings? If so, how
many and what are their
ages? Yes, 1 sister who is
19 years old
How do you feel when
people stare at you?
What do you wish
people do instead? I feel
sad. I wish they would ask
me a question about why I
What is your favorite
food? Mashed potatoes
What is the most
important thing readers
should remember about
Auggie? I just want them
to remember that we have
feelings, too. We want to be
accepted as a person. Even
though we look different,
what matters the most
about a person is what is
inside them. I like to have
fun and be around people.
kalyssa aumann
Age: 9
Craniofacial syndrome: Frontal Nasal Dysplasia (FND)
State: Nevada
What is your favorite
activity? Gymnastics
What do you want to be
when you grow up? Zoo
Keeper
Who is your hero and
why? My favorite super
hero is Flash – because he
is SUPER FAST. 
What is your favorite
school subject? Art
Do you have any pets? If
so, how many and what
types? Yes, 3 dogs. A Black
Lab puppy named Bella,
a Morkie (Maltese and
Yorkie) named Sasha, and a
Maltipoo (Maltese and Toy
Poodle) named Shadow
What is your favorite
movie? I have a lot of
favorites, like A Second
Chance, Inside Out and The
Gabby Douglas Story
Do you have any
siblings? If so, how
many and what are their
ages? Yes, one brother,
Kaden, who is 10.
What is your favorite
color? Turquoise
What is your favorite
food? Mac ‘n Cheese
What is your favorite
holiday? Christmas!
How do you feel when
people stare at you? I
want to say something –
and tell them I am a normal
kid like you!
Instead of staring, what
do you wish people
would do/say when they
meet you? Say Hi and ask
about my nose.
What makes you most
nervous when meeting
new people (new class,
club, group, etc.)? Scared
of people making fun of me.
How many surgeries
have you had? Three
What’s the worst thing
about surgery? The whole
thing is scary.
Have you ever been
bullied? If so, what did
you do? Yes. Told them to
stop, and when they didn’t
stop, I told the teacher.
Has the popularity of
Wonder changed your
life? If so, in what way?
Yes. It gives me another
thing (tool) to talk to people
about.
In your opinion, what
is the most important
thing readers should
remember about
Auggie? That bullying is
not ok, and he is just like
other kids.
john gorman
Age: 8.5
Craniofacial syndrome: Crouzon syndrome
State: Texas
What is your favorite
activity? Playing baseball,
soccer, and PS4 (Madden
and Minecraft)
What do you want to
be when you grow up?
An owner and chef of a
seafood restaurant
Who is your hero and
why? Superman and my
dad. Superman, because
he’s Superman. Dad,
because he plays Madden
with me and he’s funny.
And he loves me too.
What is your favorite
school subject? Math
and P.E.
Do you have any pets? If
so, how many and what
types? Ollie, my golden
retriever
What is your favorite
movie? Back to the Future
Do you have any
siblings? If so, how
many and what are their
ages? Two sisters, RoryCate
(7) and Greta (3)
What is your favorite
color? Blue
What is your favorite
food? Shrimp, calamari
and oysters
What is your favorite
holiday? Christmas
How do you feel when
people stare at you?
Instead of staring, what
do you wish people
would do/say when they
meet you? It annoys me. I
want to say “What is your
problem, dude!?” Instead,
I just try to get out of that
situation. I wish people
would just say “Hi.” It’s
easy after you say “Hi.”
What makes you most
nervous when meeting
new people (new class,
club, group, etc.)? I don’t
like being in situations
where I don’t know anyone
and they don’t know me. I
don’t do it very often.
How many surgeries
have you had? 13
What’s the worst thing
about surgery? Puking
after anesthesia. Having to
miss out on fun things with
my friends.
Have you ever been
bullied? Not really.
Sometimes kids will stare at
me or laugh at me.
What did you do? I walk
away. But sometimes my
mom wants to “talk it out”
with the kid. That can be
kind of embarrassing.
Has the popularity of
Wonder changed your
life? If so, in what way?
YES! I think it makes people
more kind. It has helped
my friends understand me
better.
In your opinion, what
is the most important
thing readers should
remember about
Auggie? He’s a good kid.
He’s kind, he’s funny and
that is what matters.
jeremy dale
Age: 16
Craniofacial syndrome: Goldenhar syndrome
State: New York
What is your favorite
activity? To play video
games
What do you want to be
when you grow up? A
Lego® designer
Who is your hero and
why? My grandfather
because he was brave and
courageous in the Marine
Corps.
What is your favorite
school subject? P.E.
Do you have any pets? If
so, how many and what
types? A dog, MalteseCocker Spaniel-Poodle. Her
name is Maddy and she is
four.
What is your favorite
movie? The Lego Movie
Do you have any
siblings? If so, how
many and what are their
ages? I have two younger
brothers, 13 and 9.
What is your favorite
color? Black
What is your favorite
food? Bread
What is your favorite
holiday? Christmas
How do you feel when
people stare at you?
Instead of staring, what
do you wish people
would do/say when
they meet you? What
makes you most nervous
when meeting new
people (new class, club,
group, etc.)? People aren’t
afraid of me. I have not
experienced other people
staring at me. I am not
nervous when meeting new
people.
How many surgeries
have you had? What’s
the worst thing about
surgery? I had 37
surgeries, the worst thing is
the IVs.
Have you ever been
bullied? What did you
do? I have never been
bullied before.
Has the popularity of
Wonder changed your
life? In what way? In
your opinion, what is
the most important
thing readers should
remember about
Auggie? Not all that
much, but it gave me the
opportunity to go in and
talk to younger classes
about Wonder. People
should remember to never
judge a book by its cover.
Meaning they should never
judge someone based on
what they look like.
bridget hospodka
Age: 12
Craniofacial syndrome: Pfeiffer syndrome Type II
State: Nebraska
What is your favorite
activity? Playing soccer,
giggling with friends,
designing clothes and
cooking
What do you want to
be when you grow up?
I want to be either a chef,
a fashion designer or a pro
soccer player.
Who is your hero and
why? My dad. He saved
my life twice when I had
pneumonia. One time if
he had waited an hour I
would’ve been dead.
What is your favorite
school subject? Math
Do you have any pets? If
so, how many and what
types? I have one cat
named Charlie.
What is your favorite
movie? The Parent Trap,
the Lindsey Lohan version
Do you have any
siblings? If so, how
many and what are their
ages? I have 3 siblings;
they are 15, 8 and 2.
What is your favorite
color? Blue
What is your favorite
food? Mama’s Pepperoni
Pizza
What is your favorite
holiday? Christmas
How do you feel when
people stare at you? I
don’t care if people stare at
me, I’m used to it by now.
Instead of staring, what
do you wish people
would do/say when they
meet you? I wish they
would ask to play or ask my
name.
What makes you most
nervous when meeting
new people (new class,
club, group, etc.)? That
they’ll think I’m different
and weird (which is true
with my personality).
Has the popularity of
Wonder changed your
life? Yes
How many surgeries
have you had? I don’t
count because it’s tiring, but
it’s around 30-35.
In what way? People are
nicer to me because they
have an idea of what I’ve
gone through.
What’s the worst thing
about surgery? I really
hate the pain I experience.
In your opinion, what
is the most important
thing readers should
remember about
Auggie? I think they should
remember what struggles
he has gone through.
Have you ever been
bullied? Yes, I actually
have.
What did you do? I just
stand up for myself when
I’m bullied.
connor ford
Age: 12
Craniofacial syndrome: Treacher Collins syndrome
State: New York
What is your favorite
activity? Playing baseball
and anything music related.
What do you want to be
when you grow up?
I really like math. I would
like to be a software
engineer like my dad.
Who is your hero and
why? My cousin Sara is
my hero. She was also in
a wheelchair due to a car
accident. She taught me
that my “wheels” can take
me anywhere.
What is your favorite
school subject? Math and
Science
Do you have any pets? If
so, how many and what
types? I have a dog named
Bowen. He is still a puppy
and is always getting in
trouble.
What is your favorite
movie? Annie (both the old
and new)
Do you have any
siblings? If so, how
many and what are their
ages? N/A
What is your favorite
color? All shades of Blue.
What is your favorite
food? I have a feeding
tube. All my food goes
through the tube because
I have a hard time
swallowing solid food. Kids
sometimes think it is cool
when I tell them that “I can
eat and sleep at the same
time!”
What is your favorite
holiday? Christmas. I love
having a decorated tree in
our house.
How do you feel when
people stare at you?
Instead of staring, what
do you wish people
would do/say when they
meet you? Since I am in
a wheelchair I usually have
either my mom or dad with
me when I am out and
about. When people stare
at me it makes me anxious
but my parents always
remind me that most kids
are staring because they
are curious. Some kids
have never seen a trach or
hearing aid like mine before.
Sometimes, though, kids
and adults can point and be
mean. This makes me sad.
How many surgeries
have you had? What’s
the worst thing about
surgery? I have had six
surgeries. The hardest part
is being in pain and being in
the hospital.
Have you ever been
bullied? What did you
do? I have not been bullied.
Has the popularity of
Wonder changed your
life? In what way?
Wonder has helped people
understand more about my
life. This includes adults too.
I think it is neat that Auggie
has a hearing aid just like
mine.
In your opinion, what
is the most important
thing readers should
remember about
Auggie? I think people
should remember that
even though Auggie looks
different on the outside he
feels the same feelings on
the inside that everyone
does.
children’s craniofacial association
13140 Coit Road • Suite 517 • Dallas, TX 75240
VOICE
FAX
214-570-9099
214-570-8811
TOLL-FREE
800-535-3643
www.CCAkids.org