Face Forward, founded by Dr. David Alessi, and his wife Deborah Alessi, exists to provide facial surgical reconstructive services for women and children who have been victimized by violence. Giving those who suffer at the hands of gang aggression or domestic violence a new face allows them to move forward and hopefully heal the internal injuries wrought by this scourge. One of Face Forward’s beneficiaries is Michelle who underwent surgery earlier in 2012.
Michelle suffered a series of devastating injuries to her body and soul starting when she was seven years old and a group of friends abandoned her after she fell from the truck bed on which they were playing. The disfigurement from the accident left her insecure setting her up for future abuse which came at the hands of her husband who abused her emotionally and physically – cheating on her with Michelle’s own mother even – then abandoning her when she was four months pregnant with their child. But, proving that life is stranger and more tragic than fiction, Michelle also suffered at the hands of a paramedic who was sitting with her in the Emergency Room and was nearly killed when thrown from a horse. Nevertheless, Michelle did survive, working for twelve years as a ‘dancer’ to support her and her son.
And now, thanks to her gritty determination and the support of various non-profit groups, Michelle is as beautiful and fierce on the outside as she is on the inside. As she told Face Forward shortly after her surgery, “ “I am still so excited and thrilled for this blessing. Thank you for your support†.
She has transformed the old shell of a building in the Brea/Crenshaw area where she and her son had to use buckets as bathrooms into a sparse but livable hostel-type dwelling 
where tenants, who come from circumstances similar to hers pay $400-$500 a month so that she can manage the building properly, support her family and rescue animals from a high kill South Central animal shelter – so far, she has four dogs – and help others. As she faces forward — looking more like a model than the victim she was – her ultimate goal is to transform the building she owns into a full service shelter for women like her and then replicate the establishment elsewhere.
For more information on Face Forward: www.facela.net
