News

#I had a full-face transplant — best decision I ever made

“I had a full-face transplant — best decision I ever made”

A former soldier got a new lease on life a decade after a horrific car accident in 2001.

Mitch Hunter, 42, underwent life-changing full-face transplant surgery — only the second person in the US to receive it — 10 years later, which transformed his physical appearance.

And he has now declared that the surgery was “the best decision I ever made.”

The Indianapolis native was on the surgical table for 14 hours as 30 doctors lent their time and skill to fix his mug, according to South West News Service.

The surgery took place 10 years after the accident, in which a car he was in crashed into a 10,000-volt electrical pylon on a North Carolina highway.

He shoved an injured female passenger out of the way to save her, but electrical currents then pulsed through his body — mainly his face — for about five minutes, according to SWNS.

face transplant Mitch Hunter
Mitch Hunter, an ex-solider (left), was involved in a car crash in 2001 that left him disfigured (top right). He since received a full-face transplant (below right) that transformed his life.
Mitch Hunter/SWNS

Following the crash, Hunter spent two months in a hospital and endured 67 facial reconstructive surgeries. A portion of his right leg was amputated due to his burns, and he also needed 20 skin grafts from his leg to fix the skin on his face and neck.

“I couldn’t believe how drastically my life had changed in what was a matter of minutes,” he said.

The father of three later received the face transplant from a deceased organ donor that used the skin, soft tissue and cartilage from his nose, beard and eyebrows to transform Hunter’s new face.

Surgeons work on Mitch Hunter's face transplant at a hospital in Boston.
Surgeons work on Mitch Hunter’s face transplant at a hospital in Boston.
Brigham & Womens Hospital/Barcroft Media Ltd.
Mitch Hunter was just 21 when he was involved in the accident.
Mitch Hunter was just 21 when he was involved in the accident.
Mitch Hunter/SWNS
Mitch Hunter from Indianapolis, Indiana, had a full face transplant.  SWFHtransplant - By Harrison Moore Hero soldier who underwent second full face transplant in U.S history says 'it's the best decision I ever made' - as he looks back on life since going under the knife. Mitch Hunter was just 21 years old when he was involved in a horrific crash that left him disfigured. He was in a car with his friend and his friend's girlfriend when they crashed into a 10,000 volt electrical pylon after a night out. The former soldier, who served in the US army, pushed the female passenger out the way of the electrical current and in doing so suffered burns to his face, hands and leg.
Hunter received a face transplant 10 years after the initial accident and spent 14 hours on the operating table.
Mitch Hunter/SWNS

The ex-soldier now has a beard and has regained full feeling in his face. After five months of swelling, his façade became fully formed.

“Strangely enough I can grow my beard which once belonged to the donor — which is really weird,” Hunter said.

His decision to get the transplant came about because he didn’t want his children to be bullied and be labeled as “outcasts” due to his disfigurement.

Mitch Hunter from Indianapolis, Indiana, had a full face transplant.  SWFHtransplant - By Harrison Moore Hero soldier who underwent second full face transplant in U.S history says 'it's the best decision I ever made' - as he looks back on life since going under the knife. Mitch Hunter was just 21 years old when he was involved in a horrific crash that left him disfigured. He was in a car with his friend and his friend's girlfriend when they crashed into a 10,000 volt electrical pylon after a night out. The former soldier, who served in the US army, pushed the female passenger out the way of the electrical current and in doing so suffered burns to his face, hands and leg.
The father of three noted that the surgery was “the best decision I ever made.”
Mitch Hunter/SWNS

“Having people scream at the sight of you is upsetting, and I couldn’t imagine that happening in the company of my own children,” he said.

He recalled the aftermath of his accident, noting that his family and friends were afraid of showing him his reflection in a mirror.

“For a few days no one would show me a mirror until my ex-girlfriend at the time came to visit and brought one with her,” he said. “I can’t describe the feeling I had when seeing myself like that, it didn’t feel real. I was unrecognizable.”

He also had no memory of what had transpired when he woke up a long 27 days after the tragedy.

“Having the transplant was the best decision of my life, and it has helped me put the accident behind me and finally move on with my life,” he told SWNS.

If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.

For forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com

If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our News category.

Source

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close

Please allow ads on our site

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker!