Patrick Hardison, a former firefighter who suffered severe injuries in the line of duty, went through a groundbreaking procedure—becoming the first person to undergo a full face transplant.
After a ceiling collapsed during a rescue, Patrick survived but was left with severe facial disfigurement.
For 14 years, he lived with the physical and emotional challenges, including the breakdown of his marriage and struggles with public embarrassment.
In 2015, he underwent a life-changing transplant using the face of a deceased donor. The recovery took a year of adjustment, but Patrick is now living a transformed life.
He shared that the surgery “gave me my life back,” recounting how, for the first time in 15 years, he was able to swim with his kids at Disneyland and do normal activities like driving them to school.
Patrick’s transplant was a historic medical achievement, and now, he plans to support other injured firefighters.
With his new face, he’s finally able to reclaim parts of his life he thought were lost forever, including getting his driver’s license back.
