Experiencing the "good life": literary views of craniofacial conditions and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: This article is a qualitative approach to understanding how people with craniofacial conditions see quality in their lives and how they understand the components of building a sense of well-being or goodness in their lives. Literary selections from fiction, Web sites, and first-person accounts are examined and categorized into domains and themes to offer some insight into how quality of life is built into the lives of people with craniofacial conditions. Three domains are noted: (1) a personality and psychological domain; (2) a family, work, and social interactive domain; and (3) a cultural and societal domain. Within each domain, a number of themes are noted and discussed. Quotes from affected people and their families are offered to illustrate how they respond to and alter their lives and their world views. Many adults with craniofacial conditions find ways to live with their difference and to succeed using the measures they construct.