Fireman rebuilds his life after most difficult face transplant
A VOLUNTEER fireman who suffered catastrophic burns in 2001 says he finally has his life back after undergoing the most extensive face transplant in history.
Patrick Hardison lost his ears, lips, eyelids, hair and most of his nose when a burning house collapsed on him.
He underwent 71 operations, before in August 2015 receiving a new face.
In the 26-hour procedure – which Mr Hardison was told had a survival rate that could be as low as 50 per cent – surgeons attached a new scalp, ears, nose, and eyelids as well as facial bones and muscles.
These were taken from David Rodebaugh, a 26-year-old Brooklyn man who died in a BMX cycle crash.
Mr Hardison, 42, spoke this week about the surgery and the difficult journey that led up to it.
“After my accident, my life was really hard. I hated life,” he said.
“I’m here today because I want others to see that there is hope beyond the injury.”
Before the transplant Mr Hardison had been severely depressed, he re- cently told Time magazine. He had lost his business, and his marriage of 10 years had fallen apart.
Dr Eduardo Rodreiguez, who led a team of 100 doctors and nurses in carrying out the transplant at New York University’s Langone Medical Centre, said the success of the surgery had been “remarkable”.
“This is the third face that Patrick lives with,” he said, adding that there was now a “very strong resemblance” between Mr Hardison and his five children.
Mr Hardison said he was “especially proud” to share his experience with other members of the emergency services.
“I have hope now, and I want to help those that are injured know that there is hope for them, too,” he said.