“It’s been well worth it,” the face transplant recipient says after showing the miraculous change that has taken place…
Cameron Underwood from Yuba City, California, is making remarkable progress less than a year after a 25-hour face transplant surgery. In June 2016, he attempted suicide with a gun, losing his nose, part of his lower jaw, teeth, and suffering severe eye socket damage. He had the transplant in January to repair the damage.
After his mother found out about Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez at New York University Langone Medical Center, Cameron first underwent conventional reconstructive surgery before the transplant. Since then, he has attended regular follow-ups and therapy sessions. The surgery was performed by a 100-person team led by Dr. Rodriguez.
Cameron expressed deep gratitude to Dr. Rodriguez, the transplant team, and donor Will Fisher’s family, whose sacrifice made the procedure possible. Unlike many face transplant patients who have lived with their injuries for years, Cameron’s injury was recent, which helped him avoid some long-term psychological issues.
He was placed on the organ donor list just six months before receiving the life-changing call. Will Fisher, the donor, was a filmmaker and writer who passed away unexpectedly at the end of 2017. Thanks to 3D-printed surgical planning, Cameron’s transplant is considered the most advanced of its kind.
