Patrick Hardison Received A New Face After Third-degree Burns, This Is Him Today
when a French woman Isabelle Dinoire got a face transplant after her dog disfigured most of it. This procedure was revolutionary and it gave Patrick hope that he could be the next standing in line.
He met with doctor Eduardo D. Rodriguez from the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York who promised him hell do everything he could to do the face transplant as successful as possible IF they find a matching donor. One day LiveOnNY a nonprofit that coordinates organ donations in the New York found a match.
The 26yearold David Rodebaugh sustained a severe head injury in a bike accident and has been declared as brain dead. His face was going to be transplanted on Patricks.
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Nancy Millar David Rodebaughs mother decided to donate her sons organs including his face I said You better save his face. He has the face of a porcelain doll. And hes a donor we had talked about it Millar told People.
She hoped that her sons legacy or at least a part of him will be used to save someone elses life including Patricks.
When I met Patrick I saw this strength this strong manly burly kind of energy in him that David had Nancy recalled.
David wanted to be a firefighter an I knew if this guy was a firefighter he was willing to walk into a fire to save people and risk his own life then he had the strength that David had.
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The day finally came and the procedure was performed by 100s of professionals and lasted for 26 hours.
Of course with every surgery comes a risk and this one had a 5050 percent chance of survival. But Patrick was lucky to be under the wing of hundreds of professionals. He received a new face scalp ears ear canals and eyelids which allowed him to blink naturally and save his vision.
Everything in life has a risk Patrick told Time Magazine.
When its your time to go youll gowhether youre walking down the street and get hit by a car or youre lying on the operating table.
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After the swelling was better and he learned how to talk and swallow again Patrick met with Nancy the donors mother. She had one heartwarming request to kiss Patrick on the forehead.
I said Can I kiss your forehead? Nancy said. Thats the one thing I wanted to do because every night before David went to bed when he was little I kissed his forehead.
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a year to meet her. Im just very grateful Patrick added. Without her it wouldnt have been possible. Its like shes family. We connected that easily.
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Patrick and people who receive an organ transplant take antirejection medications which suppress your bodys natural defence system immune system to prevent it from recognizing your transplant as a foreign invader and attacking it. However Patrick is thriving with his new life and facial outlook.
Today he is divorced and is working on a book that will help people who think theres no way out of a situation they put themselves in.
Because I want to show the world that you can have hope. I wouldnt want people that were like me years ago to think thats it I have to live like this. You dont. You can accomplish anything Patrick says.
His overall recovery and the chance of him surviving the accident are dubbed miraculous. Thanks to all the professionals that fixed his face along with the generous offer from Nancy Patrick is a happy man today.
