For six years, Derek, now 58, lived with the consequences of severe facial trauma that changed his life completely. During that time, he underwent numerous complex facial reconstruction surgeries. Despite all medical efforts, the results left him almost unrecognizable.
He lost one eye, struggled constantly to breathe and speak, and depended on a feeding tube in order to survive. Even so, Derek chose to remain grateful for being alive, despite the immense physical and emotional challenges he faced every day.
After all surgical options were exhausted, his medical team presented him with what would be his final possibility: a face transplant. It was described as his last chance to regain essential functions and improve his quality of life.
The Most Complex Procedure of Its Kind
The transplant was performed at the Mayo Clinic and became the most complex face transplant the institution had ever undertaken. Surgeons replaced approximately 85 percent of Derek’s face, including his forehead, eyelids, nose, mouth, and jaws, using tissue from a donor.
The operation required extraordinary precision. Doctors carefully reconnected thousands of tiny nerves in order to restore critical abilities such as blinking, eating, speaking, and smiling. The complexity of the procedure placed it among the most challenging surgeries ever attempted in this field.
Waiting for a Donor
After the decision was made, Derek waited nine months for a suitable donor to become available. That moment finally arrived, and in February, the transplant surgery took place.
The operation lasted two and a half days and involved multiple surgical teams working in rotation. Once the procedure was complete, Derek began a long and closely monitored recovery process.
Seeing His New Face
One month after the transplant, Derek was able to see his new face for the first time. The moment was deeply emotional. His mother, Lisa, later recalled that for the first time in years, Derek could go out in public without people staring at him.
As his recovery continued, Derek regained the ability to speak and smile. These milestones marked a profound turning point in his life.
A New Mission
Today, Derek has embraced a new purpose. He works as a motivational speaker, focusing on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Together with his mother, Lisa, he has helped families reconnect and has contributed to saving lives through advocacy and education.
Derek now hopes to find love, get married, and start a family — goals that once seemed impossible, but are now within reach thanks to the generosity of a donor’s family.
“You are not alone,” Lisa often says, highlighting their shared mission to bring people together and inspire hope.
