US man receives successful face transplant after surviving a tragic suicide attempt | Trending
A man from the US state of Michigan has become one of just a handful of individuals worldwide to successfully undergo a face transplant, following a tragic suicide attempt that nearly took his life. Derek Pfaff, 30, is now embarking on a new chapter after a groundbreaking surgery that has transformed his appearance and given him a second chance at life. US man received a life-changing face transplant after surviving a suicide attempt. (Instagram/mayoclinic) The miraculous surgeryEarlier this year, Pfaff underwent a complex face transplant procedure at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a surgery that lasted over 50 hours and involved more than 80 healthcare professionals. The operation has made Pfaff one of fewer than 50 people globally to have received such a transplant in the last two decades. (Also read: Brave rescue caught on cam: Man tries to jump from 14th floor of Noida high rise, neighbours save his life) Before the surgery, Pfaff had endured 58 reconstructive facial surgeries over the course of 10 years. Despite these efforts, he had been unable to eat solid food or communicate normally with friends and family. He also could not wear glasses, as he had no nose. However, thanks to the transplant, which reconstructed 85 per cent of his face, including eyelids, jaw, teeth, nose, cheek structure, and neck skin, his life has been dramatically improved. A new life, a new purposeIn a heartfelt video shared the Mayo Clinic, Pfaff expressed his gratitude for the transplant. “This surgery has transformed my life. I feel so much more confident,” he said. “I’m also going to keep sharing my story with others to help as many people as I can. I lived for a reason. I want to help others.” Pfaff’s transformation has given him hope, and he is deeply thankful to his donor and the healthcare team. “I am so grateful to my donor, his family, and my care team at Mayo Clinic for giving me this second chance,” he added. A dark pastPfaff’s journey to this moment began with tragedy. The son of Jerry and Lisa Pfaff, Derek was a star athlete in high school, excelling academically and as the captain of his state championship football team. However, in March 2014, at the age of 19, he made the devastating decision to end his life during a college spring break. (Also read: Passenger’s suicide attempt in flight’s toilet leads to emergency landing at UK airport) “I don’t remember anything. I don’t remember getting the gun, going outside, shooting myself, or the weeks afterwards,” Derek recalls. His father discovered him lying unconscious in the snowbank next to their garage and rushed him to the hospital. Doctors initially believed he wouldn’t survive. Yet, Derek defied the odds. His mother, Lisa, says, “It’s a miracle he lived,” and thanks to his survival and the subsequent surgery, Derek is now determined to use his experience to inspire others.
