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In 2001, volunteer firefighter Patrick Hardison entered a burning house to rescue a woman he believed was trapped inside. Moments later, the roof collapsed, leaving him with devastating third-degree burns across his face and scalp.
The injuries changed every part of his life. Patrick underwent 71 surgeries, struggled to eat, smile, blink, and close his eyes, and often hid behind a baseball cap, sunglasses, and prosthetic ears. Children sometimes ran away from him, while strangers stared.
Then, years later, an extraordinary opportunity appeared.
Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez and a team of more than 100 medical professionals prepared Patrick for what would become the most extensive face transplant performed at the time. In 2015, the operation lasted 26 hours, replacing his face, scalp, ears, ear canals, nose, and eyelids. Doctors had estimated only a 50/50 chance that he would survive.
The donor was 26-year-old David Rodebaugh, whose mother chose to donate his organs after his death.
The transplant gave Patrick a new chance at life. Although recovery was difficult and he must take anti-rejection medication for life, he has continued to share his story as a message of hope and perseverance.
