Patrick Hardison, the 42-year-old volunteer firefighter who made medical history at 嘿嘿视频 last year when he successfully underwent the most extensive face transplant ever performed, formally introduced himself to the media鈥攁nd to the world鈥攊n August. He was the guest of honor at a press conference held at 嘿嘿视频 to mark the one-year anniversary of his pioneering surgery. Hardison, a father of five, was severely burned in the line of duty in 2001 in his hometown of Senatobia, Mississippi.
, the surgeon who led a team of more than 100 medical professionals who collaborated on the procedure, reported that Hardison is thriving. He can form a full range of facial expressions, chew without pain, and articulate clearly. Not only can he fully close his eyes for the first time since the accident, but his ability to blink has been restored, keeping his eyes clean and hydrated so that he鈥檚 no longer at risk of going blind. 鈥淲e are amazed at Patrick鈥檚 recovery, which has surpassed all of our expectations,鈥 says Dr. Rodriguez, the Helen L. Kimmel Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and chair of the . 鈥淢ost significant is the lack of a rejection episode. We believe this has much to do with the methodical approach we took in the matching process to ensure that Patrick鈥檚 donor provided the most favorable match.鈥
Hardison鈥檚 extraordinary recovery鈥攗nique among the 37 face transplants previously performed鈥攈as allowed his medical team to move forward with the removal of his abdominal feeding tube and the breathing tube in his trachea much sooner than expected. Now that Hardison鈥檚 facial swelling has largely subsided, Dr. Rodriguez has been able to perform revisions to his forehead, eyes, lips, chin, and ears. 鈥淧atrick is extremely committed to regular exercise, complying with his medication regimen, and meeting with his physicians regularly,鈥 notes Dr. Rodriguez. 鈥淭his puts him way ahead of schedule in terms of achieving the optimal level of recovery and appearance.鈥
During a recent visit to New York, Hardison shared his reflections on the most transformative year of his life.
A Bond Like No Other
鈥淥nce I met Dr. Rodriguez, I knew he was the guy. We just had a connection. He said, 鈥楾his is what鈥檚 going on. You and I are family. We鈥檙e hooked for life.鈥 And he鈥檚 been straight up with me the whole time. Dr. Rodriguez and his team have been very supportive. I had a lot going on in my head, but he helped me work through it all. After the transplant, I would call Dr. Rodriguez, and he would come to my hospital room within minutes. I never had any doubts that it would go well. From the first time I met Dr. Rodriguez, he was determined that this was going to be a success. I鈥檓 so grateful to him and the entire transplant team for the new face they gave me.鈥
Highs and Lows
鈥淎fter my accident, it was very tough. Every day I was thinking, 鈥業f I can just make it through this day without the stares and the questions.鈥 It was like that for 14 years, but now I don鈥檛 have to do that. Now I鈥檓 just a normal guy walking down the street. It鈥檚 such a great feeling. I鈥檓 so much happier. My energy level is good, so I鈥檓 able to do whatever I want to do. My two sons live with me, and we spend as much time together as we can. We鈥檝e taken some small trips out of town and a big trip to Disney World. I enjoy the simple stuff: sitting down to dinner with my kids, going fishing with them, having friends over, hanging out with my buddies at the firehouse.
鈥淎fter the transplant surgery, I tried to stay focused on healing and maintaining a positive outlook. I remember when I thought my life was over. I used to say to myself, 鈥榃hen my daughters get married, I鈥檒l just wear my cap and dark glasses.鈥 But I prayed on it heavily for years. I prayed for change, and then this wonderful thing happened. When I look into the eyes of my kids, I see happiness鈥攂ecause they see how happy I am. My favorite memory of the past year is when all of my kids came to New York to visit me at 嘿嘿视频 after the transplant. I hadn鈥檛 seen them in a while, and I was really missing them. It gave me a little extra boost.鈥
A Joyful Homecoming
鈥淚t was great to finally go home to Senatobia after the surgery. The first thing I did was have a glass of sweet tea. It鈥檚 a Southern thing鈥攜ou can鈥檛 get it in New York. The entire town greeted me. The streets were lined up with cars and people. Many of them came to the house and welcomed me home. It really got my spirits up.
鈥淚鈥檝e tried to get back to my routine. The biggest adjustment is just learning to live with a new face. I walk up to people and ask them, 鈥楧o you know who I am?鈥 They say, 鈥楴o, I guess I don鈥檛.鈥 So I tell them, and they鈥檙e just stunned. Oddly enough, when I鈥檓 in New York, some people actually recognize me. They鈥檒l come up to me and say, 鈥楬ey, you鈥檙e the guy on the news?鈥 And I鈥檒l say, 鈥榊es, sir, I am.鈥欌夆
A Miracle of Modern Medicine鈥攁nd Faith
鈥淪ome people who hear about my story tweet me. They say things like 鈥業 thought I had a big problem, but once I learned what a courageous person you are, I don鈥檛 even acknowledge my own problems anymore.鈥 But I don鈥檛 like to be classified as a hero, and I don鈥檛 see myself that way. I鈥檓 the same person I鈥檝e always been. I still have the same friends. I still do the same things. I鈥檓 just Pat鈥攁nd I鈥檒l always be Pat. I had an accident doing what I loved, and this was the outcome. You鈥檝e got to take the good with the bad. If I could go back, I would still go into that burning house. I was angry for years, but now I see this for what it is鈥攁 miracle. God has kept me on this earth this long to get this transplant, so that I can inspire others, so that I can give them hope.鈥
Facing the Future
鈥淣ow that I can blink again, I sleep better than I have in years鈥攗sually six or seven hours. It鈥檚 just like it was before the accident. My eyes are never dry, so I can tell they鈥檙e doing a good job. This means I can drive again, and that鈥檚 a big deal for me. For so long, I had to depend on others to get around.
鈥淒r. Rodriguez says that in another six months, when more of the swelling goes down, I鈥檒l look totally different. Hopefully, I鈥檒l get to a place one day where I can do some motivational speaking. I鈥檇 like to share my story with wounded warriors or injured firefighters and police officers. I want to encourage others who need a face transplant. The rewards are way bigger than the risks.
鈥淚 recently met the donor鈥檚 mother. I wanted her to know that her son is still living in me and in those who received his other organs. It was great to meet her and thank her. She gave me a new life.鈥