Sam: The Boy Behind The Mask

by Tom Hallman Jr.

Sam: The Boy Behind the Mask tells the true, heart-wrenching story of Sam Lightner. Born with a rare disfiguring growth that covers and distorts the left side of his face, skull, and neck-Sam is determined to live a normal life. For fourteen years, doctors refuse to operate on Sam, until an elite team of surgeons at Boston Children's Hospital undertake a risky thirteen-hour operation to remove the malformation. Sam nearly dies on the operating table, but survives, and returns home to begin his freshman year of high school. However, when doctors discover excess fluid around his brain, Sam slips into a coma, and is not expected to live. As the family and doctors begin to give up, one doctor-pediatric neurosurgeon Monica Wehby-keeps believing, even as all hope seems lost. The only female in the boy's club of neurosurgery, Dr. Wehby is scorned for refusing to accept facts and for allowing her emotions-as a woman-to cloud her medical judgment. But she perseveres, staying by Sam's side, until he moves first a finger, then a foot, and finally, begins to interact with those around him.

Tom Hallman's Pulitzer prize-winning series on Sam Lightner in The Oregonian touched the city of Portland so profoundly that it generated more than ten thousand letters from readers. Now Tom Hallman takes us far deeper into the world Sam inhabits, encompassing startling and inspirational events up to the present day. A human story of hope in the face of tragedy, and the compassion to attempt the impossible, Sam: The Boy Behind the Mask shows how one boy-wanting nothing more than to be part of the regular world-is helped along his journey by medical miracles, and by the generosity of the human heart.

Genres: Nonfiction, Disability

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2002

About the author

I started my career in New York City right out of college. I was hired to work as a copy editor for a series of upscale home-decorating magazines. I had a fancy desk that looked out over the St. Regis Hotel, and I was so impressed with myself that on the masthead I had my name listed as Thomas B. Hallman Jr.

This was back in 1977 — Son of Sam, the Blackout and Reggie Jackson hitting three home runs in the World Series. My first week there, I lost $20 in a three-card Monte scam played by Times Square hustlers.

I lived in an old hotel that was being converted into an apartment building. The place was filled with a strange mix of residents: Young people trying to make it in the city, old people being pushed out of the building by the owner, and artists and musicians, some on the way up, but more than a few on their way down.

I arrived in New York City with $750, a loan I had taken out at the credit union to use as an “emergency fund.” I promptly set up a bachelor pad. I bought a stereo, a three piece sectional sofa that I hauled piece by piece up Broadway and a glass-topped coffee table.

And then I was fired.

I returned to my hometown — Portland, Oregon — with only the stereo and loan payments since I couldn’t sell the furniture and had to leave it all behind. One day I spotted a classified ad placed by the editor of a small, Eastern Oregon weekly looking for a reporter. The interview took place at the local coffee shop. He was stunned that someone who had just been in New York City was interested in a job in Hermiston – known as Oregon’s watermelon capital. He hired me on the spot.

I’m now a senior reporter at The Oregonian, where I’ve worked for 32 years. I’ve written numerous stories for Reader’s Digest, and won every major feature writing award, some multiple times. I was twice a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, and won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing.

I’ve also worked at a car wash, a grocery store and a greyhound race track. I had a stint as a bartender for one week, and was once an answer to a question on the television show Jeopardy.

My wife and I have two daughters.

And, by the way, I still have the stereo I bought in New York City.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story!

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of courage, friendship, love and support. Sam is an incredible kid who only sought acceptance for who he was and only wanted to see him as a person, not a deformed monster. His parents incredible support was so inspiring, and Dr. Wheby's persistence unwillingness to succumb to the hospitals pressure was so inspiring.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only one word: WOW.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok. a bit disjointed. also felt the language was stilted and didn't flow like dialogue should.

but, its a good story. I'd like to know how he's doing now.

[Teresa Schmidt]

Inspiring

[Travis Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant writing, I was hooked.

[Justin Hochstetler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book about courage, endurance, and faith. It's super interesting from the very beginning to the very end (where it ends quite abruptly.)

[Victoria Ontiveros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam: The Boy behind the Mask is very inspiring book to read because this makes you think about how others with a disorder feel inside when they are in public. Sam is a boy who was born with a tumor on the left side of his face and faces school with students looking at him daily wondering what’s on his face. Although surgeons around the world are scared to take Sam into surgery because of the high risks of Sam’s life on the line. But changes when a women surgeon comes in everything changes for Sam. She is willing to take the risk of Sam’s life. She feels very confident on working on Sam’s tumor after she does the operation, you have to read to find out what happens. This book made me realize that other people have it worse than I do. I realize I complain about this about myself and that when other kids have a disorder that makes them stand out when all they really want to do is fit in. This book should be read by many students in all High schools. The emotions i had for this book were very sensitive because i got to know the true feelings about Sam , How he felt in class, How he saw himself , How ugly he felt , Feeling low about everything around him because of his condition . I wish I could say how the operation ended but that is for you to find out. I suggest you get some tissue when you read this book .

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Hallman’s book, Sam: The Boy Behind the Mask, he artfully describes the life and journey that Sam, his siblings, and parents go through as they struggle from countless doctors and hospitals trying to save Sam’s life. Sam was born with a disfiguring and dangerously abnormal growth on his face that was slowly putting pressure on his face and throat that would eventually lead to his death. The book details all of Sam’s medical problems and the doctors who treated him.
The book is not written using the first person narrator. Although this text is written in the third person, the author does not make the reader feel distant or separated from the story. Hallman does a fantastic job of drawing in the reader by telling a compelling and gripping story. Through all of Hallman’s research and interviewing, he does a great job of telling a work of creative nonfiction in a strong and authoritative voice. His use of vivid and detailed depictions adds dramatically to the entire story.

[Melissa Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. I read the 4-part series written by Hallman online but had to pick up the book to find out more. This is a true story of a boy born with a severe facial deformity. It follows his life and the events surrounding his middle school and early high school years. It's hard to imagine a more challenging hand to be dealt. But the faith and love of his family, as well as Sam's attitude and outlook on life are inspiring.

I only wish there was a way to find out what Sam has been up to in the past 12 years. It's hard to come to care for a person through such an intimate book like this and then not be able to find any updates online. I pray he and his family are doing well!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallman takes a journalistic approach to this young man's story of disability and medical malady. It is an easy, smooth read, though at times Hallman takes to repeating himself. It's a story that makes you think about what life is like when people only see your disfigurement and not the person inside, and also about the kinds of decisions you have to make as a parent when your child's life is on the line.

If you enjoy reading about medical procedures and the lives of young people, you will probably enjoy this book. I didn't find any deep truths about life or God, but it was informative and I enjoyed that it took place near where I live.

[Kirsten]

This book made me so happy and sad at the same time. It was such a feel good kind of story, but without a perfect happy ending. It was really interesting reading this book because the main character Sam, went to my middle school before it became a k-8 (and before I went there) and he went to Grant. Also a very important doctor in his life was Dr. Monica Wehby who is now in the midst of a campaign. This book was a rather easy read, but it contained some harder content because of the medical language used. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it had a heart warming true story about a local man that was very inspirational.

[Lisa Lap · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read and yet a powerful book about the strength of the human spirit. Sam is born with a facial disfigurement that doctors are afraid to try and remove. The book is a compilation of the newspaper articles written by Tom Hallman, for which he won the Pulizter prize. Sam and his family are incredible in their love for each other and wanting to provide the most normal life for Sam that they can.

I'd recommend this book to everyone but especially teenagers who often struggle with body image and the need to fit in.

Until next time,
~Lisa

[Vonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about a boy born with a vascular anomalie on his face. Originally doctors suspected as a fetus that his brain was developing outside his skull. Upon birth they were surprised to find it otherwise. His life has been difficult with this birth defect, yet he maintains high grades & was at grade level in spite of hospitalizations. A great book that teaches compassion for those who look different.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is really just an expanded version of Oregonian reporter Tom Hallman's Pulitzer Prize winning series of stories. The newspaper story is incredible. But in my eyes, Hallman has fallen off my list of top reporters after some questions about his work surfaced...unfortunately shortly after I took a writing class from him. So much for inspiration...

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one evening! So compelling. Account of a boy suffering from the severest of cranial facial malformations. a detailed and dramatic account of his surgery keeps you on the edge of your seat. Incredible love, courage, strength. all medical stories should be written like this one!

[Michelle]

well written story--compassionate but realistic look at a boy's struggle to overcome obstacles

[Andy Perdue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unbelievably heartwarming and well-written book, the story of a boy with incredible inner strength. Sam's story is truly inspirational.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving and well-written book based on the award winning newspaper series. Well worth reading. It will not disappoint you.

[Book Concierge · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and inspiring story of one boy's courage facing a terrible medical challenge.