Drastic Accident 

The Aftermath

Richard was rushed to the nearest hospital. He was in a medically induced coma for two weeks. The surgeons saved his life – but at a high cost. When he woke up from the surgery, but his face was disfigured beyond recognition. His jaws were slack. His tongue was nothing but a stub. His lips and nose were nearly erased. 

Richard found it hard to eat and drink without drooling, and he couldn’t smell. The accident also destroyed his self-esteem. After his surgery scars healed, he would wear a full black ski mask. He would only go out grocery shopping, and even then only at night. His mental health was spiraling downward. 

“Sometimes he wondered if suicide was his only choice.” said Richard’s mother. 

From Risk...

Eight years and many failed surgeries later, Richard found out about a doctor who had successfully performed a partial face transplant. There was funding for these procedures from the Department of Defense, as many service members were returning from the Middle East with similar injuries. 

A surgeon named Dr. Rodriguez was honing his skills to see if a complete face transplant was possible. Dr. Rodriguez and his team of surgeons knew it was an extremely risky procedure. It could go one of two ways. It could either give Richard his life back, or it could result in his death. 

Even if the face transplant succeeded and Richard survived, there was the risk of his body rejecting the transplant. It would be difficult to find a donor. Then, in 2012, Dr. Rodriguez received news. A young man had been hit by a fast-moving car. He was pronounced dead on arrival. Dr. Rodriguez asked the parents if they would be willing to donate their son’s face and told Richard’s story. The parents said yes. 

However, one problem remained. A flight from Richard’s home to the hospital where Dr. Rodriguez worked would be too expensive. How would he receive this life-changing face transplant? 

...To Restoration

That was when Mercy Medical Angels stepped in. Mercy Medical Angels flew Richard to Dr. Rodriguez at no cost. Once there, he was informed of the risk. But Richard was determined to go through with the procedure. “If I die,” said Richard, “I want to donate everything, everything, to help other people.” 

With that, Dr. Rodriguez and his team got to work. The team replaced the bones around Richard’s eyes. In addition, they connected nerves, muscles, and blood vessels from the transplanted face to Richard. They also reconstructed his nose, tongue, and lips. 

The operation took longer than they expected. The heavy scarring from the failed surgeries was difficult to get through. But after 36 hours of surgery and close monitoring, Richard woke up. He was alive, and his face was no longer disfigured. With the help of medicine, his body didn’t reject the transplant. 

"When I Saw My Face..."

Richard’s self-confidence was restored. His mental health improved. At last, he was able to go out in public and show his face. He could also eat and speak normally. 

He knows he couldn’t have made this progress without Mercy Medical Angels. “When I saw my face,” said Richard, “I saw a miracle that was performed.” 

Thanks to Mercy Medical Angels’ charitable transportation programs, the miracle of healing is possible. 

We're Here to Help Access Medical Care.

If you're a patient or a have a family member who needs free medical flights, reach out to us about your transportation needs.  We're here to help you access the medical care you need.