there's a picture of renatta. i wouldn't say she was bad to look at before. by other kids how did you feel? >> i tried to encourage her to feel better about her self and not pay attention to what the other kids were saying. there was so much negativity that was building on her confidence and self-esteem. >> doctor, it's a very difficult issue. want to read you what a psychologist said. she told nbc, are we saying the responsibility now falls on the kid who's bullied to alter themselves surgicallily? we have to address the idea there should be zero tolerance of bullying and encouraging acceptance of differences. notwithstanding what you do which is incredibly laudable in so many ways, do you understand that argument against it? >> of course. no one agrees that we should have bullying. but to think that we're going to stop bullying by attacking the bull bullies it may or may not occur. but to take children who have loss of self-esteem. renatta had not been to school for two years because of loss of self-esteem. she had seen a psychologist who recommended she ge

renatta had not been to school for two years because of loss of self-esteem.hologist who recommended she get some kind of help to change the way she looked. the mission station of the foundation is to take children with birth defects and provide them surgery for low income families. that's how she got picked. bullying was what became recognized as we went through the process of evaluating her for a candidate of the little baby face foundation. >> right. you don't charge for this kind of surgery, right? >> no, everything, room and board, transportation to new york along with a parent, the foundation emphasizes children from the united states. unlike most of the foundations go to underdeveloped countries, we take care of kids from the states and all the fees are paid for including surgery and the hospitals allow to us do these surgeries. >> renatta, how did you feel after the surgery and everything had calmed down and you were back to normal but looking different and looked in the mir are. how did you feel? >> i felt pretty good about myself. i felt like i was a

the weapons that served me well against sister renatta and the home, i didn't need them anymore, butrealize that. i didn't realize that war was over and i had to move on. one of the counselors in the group home, the group home did serve me well, i did like the group home, but i just didn't want to be there. i wanted to be home. this wonderful man, and i'm going to say his real name, his name is nigel johnson. one day he told me when i was leaving the group home, he said life dealt you a [ bleep ] hand. i went, gee, thanks for the encouragement. you know. and good life to you, too. and he says, but you can always ask for new cards. and i said, how? and he said, you're going to figure it out when you get tired of holding that hand. and that's what i did, and that's really the point of the book. >> the handbook for an unpredictable life, how to survive cyst renatts and great hair. by the way, on that cover page, that's great hair. rosie perez, pleasure to meet you. >> a pleasure, as well. thank you so much. >> we'll be right back. marge: you know, there's a more enjoyable way to get you

of school where you are -- you're beaten and i guess abused in various ways by this woman, sister renattaad not an entirely bad time with her. you quite liked a lot of the aspects of that education. >> i was privy to top-notch education at the home. that's what we called it. the nuns were very very strict. but they also pressed upon us to make it, to get out. so all the time we were like, what is your career choice going to be? what college are you going to go to? you better do well in school. let me see your report card. we had two-hour study homework every single day. >> it was tough love. >> it was tough love. and that part of it was wonderful. and the other part that was wonderful, the nuns were the first to say that i should be on the stage. so every time they put on a show, i got to be part of it. and did i ever think it would be a career? absolutely not. but they did see something in me. and i really did appreciate that. but the beatings i really could have done without. >> right. in terms of what impacted you as a person and your religion, being around all this quite severe religi