He lost most of his lips and teeth, his nose, and an eye. He had 58 procedures in the following six years. Doctors eventually informed him that there was nothing else they could do.
Derek remarked, “I didn’t go out in public.””It was really difficult,” Lisa said, “because people would point and, you know, call him names.”
Derek claims that prior to the attempt, he buried the strain he felt at school and kept his mental health issues to himself.
“I suppressed my emotions and sentiments. I didn’t want to discuss it with anyone. I wish I had gotten it off my chest now, whether it was my parents. He remarked, “I would have felt so much better.”
Derek Pfaff can blink, swallow, smile and breathe through his nose for the first time after undergoing a face transplant at @MayoClinic. @CNN @jacqEHoward shares the incredible story behind the surgery and Derek’s plans for the future. https://t.co/uELyNg7Qz5
— Mayo Clinic (@MayoClinic) November 23, 2024
Derek eventually qualified for a face transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, after a protracted journey. He and his family received a call in February 2024 informing them that a donor had become available.
After a difficult process and multiple surgeries, Derek’s face is now functional once more.He is one of just 50 people
