Just Like You: Living With Visible Conditions & Healing

Episode 1 - Facial Anomalies

Just Like You – Facial Anomalies is a Mid-American Emmy Nominated and Oscar qualified documentary that follows four children living with facial anomalies as they share what it’s really like to navigate the world—socially, emotionally, and physically—when you look different.

Through honest, age-appropriate storytelling, Annalise Jamison, Billy Eckles, Luke Lori, and Winston Bertrand speak directly about living with conditions such as facial paralysis and lymphangioma. Joined by their closest friends, they share real moments of curiosity, misunderstanding, courage, and connection—offering insight that only kids living these experiences can provide.

The film helps viewers better understand the challenges children with facial anomalies face at school, in social settings, and in everyday life. It is designed to reduce fear, build empathy, and create space for more compassionate conversations among peers, educators, healthcare providers, and families.

What began as a single project quickly demonstrated its impact. With guidance from award-winning journalist Hannah Storm and leading medical experts, including Dr. Bill Magee of Operation Smile, Dr. Teresa O, and Dr. Milton Waner, the film became part of a growing body of work dedicated to fostering understanding, inclusion, and empathy through storytelling.

Episode 2 - Cleft Lip & Palette

Just Like You – Cleft Lip & Palate is a short documentary that offers an intimate look into the life of Billy Eckles, a young boy growing up with a cleft lip and palate, alongside his closest friend.

Through honest storytelling, the film explores what it feels like to navigate visible difference, speech challenges, medical procedures, and social moments—while also highlighting confidence, humor, friendship, and resilience. By centering Billy’s voice, the film invites viewers to move beyond assumptions and see the person first, not the condition.

With insight from Dr. Bill Magee, co-founder of Operation Smile, the film provides helpful context around cleft lip and palate while keeping the focus where it belongs: on Billy’s lived experience and the relationships that shape his everyday life. The presence of a close friend helps illuminate how understanding and acceptance grow—not through explanation alone, but through shared moments and genuine connection.

The film helps viewers better understand cleft lip and palate in everyday settings such as school, home, and social environments. It is designed to reduce fear, build empathy, and create space for more compassionate conversations among peers, educators, healthcare providers, and families.

What began as a single film quickly demonstrated its impact. Just Like You – Cleft Lip & Palate has been used as an educational and empathy-building tool and continues to serve as part of a broader effort to foster inclusion and understanding through storytelling.

Episode 3 - I Care for a Burn Survivor

Just Like You – I Care for a Child Burn Survivor is a short documentary that centers the voices of caregivers navigating life after a child’s burn injury.

Through honest, intimate storytelling, parents of child burn survivors share what it feels like to care for a child in the aftermath of trauma—grappling with fear, guilt, anger, uncertainty, and profound love. They speak openly about the emotional toll of caregiving, the challenges of supporting healing, and the quiet strength required to move forward when life has fundamentally changed.

The film is designed to reassure caregivers that they are not alone, and that their experiences—often unseen—are shared by others walking the same path.

The film is woven together with an understated, reflective score featuring music by Carol Duboc and “Heal Over” by Grammy-nominated artist K.T. Tunstall, reinforcing the film’s tone of vulnerability, compassion, and resilience.

Just Like You – Care helps viewers better understand the emotional landscape surrounding pediatric burn recovery and the vital role caregivers play in healing—not just physically, but emotionally and socially.

Episode 4 - Burns

Just Like You - Burns is a short documentary that follows three young burn survivors as they share what it’s really like to heal—not just physically, but socially and emotionally—after a burn injury.

Through honest, age-appropriate storytelling, the film helps viewers better understand the challenges burn survivors face when returning to school, work, and everyday life. It is designed to reduce fear, build empathy, and create space for more compassionate conversations among peers, educators, healthcare providers, and families.

The film emerged in response to a real need identified by a child life specialist working closely with burn survivors: patients needed a tool that could help others understand their experience and support a smoother return to daily life. Three young girls—including Caroline, a burn survivor herself—stepped forward to share their stories, helping create a resource that could support others facing similar journeys.

What began as a single project quickly demonstrated its impact. The film received international recognition and became the foundation for Just Like You Films, a nonprofit dedicated to using storytelling to foster empathy, inclusion, and understanding across schools, healthcare settings, workplaces, and communities.