Born Different: Robert Hoge’s Remarkable Journey of Self-Acceptance

When Robert Hoge was born in Brisbane, Australia, 51 years ago, he didn’t look like most newborns. He had a massive tumor on his face and severely deformed legs. Doctors had no choice but to amputate both legs shortly after birth.

The news was devastating to his parents. His mother, overwhelmed and heartbroken, couldn’t bear to look at her newborn son. She even told doctors she didn’t want to take him home. Her reaction may seem harsh, but Robert himself doesn’t see her as a villain — and he doesn’t want you to either.

Robert was the fifth child in a family of six. His birth came as a shock, especially because his siblings were all healthy. His appearance stunned everyone. One relative even bluntly called him “ugly.” But eventually, after deep reflection and a family meeting, his parents decided to bring him home. His siblings welcomed him with open arms, helping shift his mother’s heart.

She was afraid — afraid of the struggles he’d face, afraid of how people would treat him, and afraid of what life would be like for a child with disabilities. But she was also honest about those fears. And that honesty, Robert says, helped him more than anyone might expect.

A doctor had encouraged Robert’s mom to keep a diary — and she did. In that little blue book, she recorded her raw, unfiltered thoughts. She never hid it from Robert. “Every now and then, I’d ask her to read me a bit from it,” he told NPR in 2016. “She was always honest, even when it was hard.”

As a child, Robert underwent major surgery to remove part of the tumor on his face. Surgeons built him a new nose using cartilage from his toes. He was fitted with prosthetic legs after amputation, and thanks to the love and support of his family, he began to thrive.

Today, Robert Hoge is a husband, father of two, and lives near the water in Wynnum, a suburb of Brisbane. He has worked as a journalist, and now spends his time as a civil servant, motivational speaker, and author.

He’s known for his humor and honesty, especially when sharing his story. He regularly posts uplifting messages online and uses his platform to encourage others to embrace who they are.

Despite pressure over the years to undergo further surgeries to improve his appearance, Robert has refused. “I like who I am,” he says — and he means it.

One reviewer captured his story perfectly: “A gripping story of an innocent boy who believed he was normal, only to discover that others didn’t see him that way — and how he grew to be proud of the very things that made him different.”

Robert Hoge’s story is a powerful reminder that beauty comes in many forms — and that true strength begins with self-acceptance.