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If you've had a second chance, you know how it can make sense. Cameron Underwood knows it better than most people: he was given a second chance in life. The 26-year-old suffered a facial transplant after being shot in the face.
Underwood comes from Yuba, California just north of Sacramento. He grew up in a loving family and filled with faith, with a strong and supportive family, but when he came into adulthood, he was a victim of a battle against depression.
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In June 2016, mental illness progressed and, after turning to alcohol to get out of it, Underwood resorted to serious self-harm. He was shot in the face and, even though he survived, he lost most of his jaw, nose and every tooth except one, according to a NYU Langone Health statement in New York, where he had been hurt. his operation.
Despite attempts at conventional reconstruction, Underwood was seriously prevented from leading a normal life. He could barely speak and he had to eat with a tube. It was not the way he wanted for himself, and it was certainly not the path his family did not want for him.
Then, Underwood's mother, Beverly Bailey-Potter, read an article in the December 2016 issue of People Innovative Facial Transplant Program at NYU Langone Health. She immediately contacted the program director, Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, who would soon become the one who would give his son his second chance.
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Although Dr. Rodriguez and his team are in charge of the procedure, another person might play an even more important role in the Underwood transplant: the donor.
On January 4, 2018, after Underwood had been on a waiting list for six months, a donor was found. He was called Will Fisher, shown below. He was a 23-year-old Manhattan resident and a student at Johns Hopkins University. He was also a champion of chess, filmmaker, budding writer and, of course, organ donor.
"Being part of this experience has been a source of strength for me during a very difficult time," said Fisher's mother, Sally, in a statement. "I do not think I would have survived Will's death without Cameron, Cameron has his whole life in front of him and I like the idea that Willie helps him lead a better life." . "
As soon as Underwood got the call, his family packed up and left for New York. It was in the middle of a snow storm "cyclone bomb", but time was running out.
On January 5th, around 7:30 am, the operation began. Then, about 25 hours later, Underwood was taken from the operating room under a brand new face.
This was the third time Dr. Rodriguez had done a facial transplant and was about 11 hours shorter than the first. But this is not the only reason why this particular case is remarkable. It was also the shortest period between US history and transplants to cope with a transplant, with only 18 months.
"Cameron has not lived with his injury for a decade or more, like most other facial transplants," Dr. Rodriguez said in his release. "As a result, he has not had to deal with many long-term psycho-social issues that often result in problems such as severe depression, substance abuse, and other potentially harmful behaviors."
The case also had one of the shortest waiting times for a donor, about six months, as well as much less time spent at the hospital compared to the only other face transplant performed at NYU Langone Health. This patient stayed in the hospital for 62 days and Underwood remained 37.
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"Technical advances have increased our ability to handle the most complex cases more accurately, with maximum aesthetic and functional results," said Dr. Rodriguez.
After leaving Underwood Hospital in mid-February, he stayed in New York for rehabilitation. He was able to return to California in March but continues to visit New York monthly for follow-up visits. He will remain under anti-rejection treatment throughout his life.
Underwood is still learning to use his new face. At a press conference on Thursday morning, Dr. Rodriguez compared the sensation felt in Underwood's facial muscles during the first few months after the Novocaine surgery. His body must accept his new face and his brain must adapt to it, said Dr. Rodriguez. Underwood is now working to relearn how to use his face through physical therapy, a process that could take three to five years.
"I think it's important to share my story to inspire others to have hope and to ask for help," Underwood told the conference. Health attended. "I'm really grateful to have a facial transplant, which gave me a second chance to live … I was able to go back to many activities that I like, like being outdoors, playing sports and going time with my friends and family. I hope to return to work soon, and one day to start a family … It was not easy, but it was worth it. "
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