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Face transplant recipient overwhelmed by result | Face transplant recipient overwhelmed by result |
(3 days later) | |
On 16 June last year, Andy Sandness was wheeled into an operating theatre at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to undergo one of the rarest surgeries in the world. | On 16 June last year, Andy Sandness was wheeled into an operating theatre at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to undergo one of the rarest surgeries in the world. |
Three weeks later, he would gaze in a mirror, unsure what he would see. | Three weeks later, he would gaze in a mirror, unsure what he would see. |
Reflected back at him was the face of another man: the nose, cheeks, mouth, lips, jaw, chin and even the teeth of his donor, Calen Ross. | Reflected back at him was the face of another man: the nose, cheeks, mouth, lips, jaw, chin and even the teeth of his donor, Calen Ross. |
What the two men had in common was that they had both, at the age of 21, turned a gun on themselves. | What the two men had in common was that they had both, at the age of 21, turned a gun on themselves. |
Unable to speak clearly after seeing his new face, Mr Sandness wrote a note for his doctors and family to read: "Far exceeded my expectations." | Unable to speak clearly after seeing his new face, Mr Sandness wrote a note for his doctors and family to read: "Far exceeded my expectations." |
Mr Sandness, from Wyoming, was left with a face almost completely destroyed after his attempt on his life in 2006. | Mr Sandness, from Wyoming, was left with a face almost completely destroyed after his attempt on his life in 2006. |
After extensive surgery, he still told people he had been in a hunting accident to explain his appearance. | After extensive surgery, he still told people he had been in a hunting accident to explain his appearance. |
Mr Ross, who lived in Minnesota, did not survive when he shot himself in early June 2016, leaving behind a pregnant and devastated widow, Lily. | Mr Ross, who lived in Minnesota, did not survive when he shot himself in early June 2016, leaving behind a pregnant and devastated widow, Lily. |
She was committed to fulfilling her late husband's wish to be an organ donor but was uneasy about the prospect of another man taking his face. | She was committed to fulfilling her late husband's wish to be an organ donor but was uneasy about the prospect of another man taking his face. |
"I didn't want to walk around and all of a sudden see Calen," she told the Associated Press. | "I didn't want to walk around and all of a sudden see Calen," she told the Associated Press. |
But she gave her consent after being reassured that Mr Sandness had his own eyes and forehead and would not be identifiable as her husband. | But she gave her consent after being reassured that Mr Sandness had his own eyes and forehead and would not be identifiable as her husband. |
Dr Samir Mardini, a specialist in facial reconstruction, spent more than 50 Saturdays over three years practising the surgery and transplanting the faces of cadaver heads. | |
They had estimated it would take years to find a matching donor, but five months after Mr Sandness was put on a donor waiting list - a match, in Mr Calen, was found. | They had estimated it would take years to find a matching donor, but five months after Mr Sandness was put on a donor waiting list - a match, in Mr Calen, was found. |
The delicate and complex procedure included identifying nerve branches on the faces of both men and using electric currents to determine their function - smiling, or opening and closing the eyes, for example. | The delicate and complex procedure included identifying nerve branches on the faces of both men and using electric currents to determine their function - smiling, or opening and closing the eyes, for example. |
This was crucial for Mr Sandness to be able to do those things with his new face. | This was crucial for Mr Sandness to be able to do those things with his new face. |
Mr Sandness, now 31, and Lily have not met. But he has written her a letter, in which he spoke of her husband's favourite things. | Mr Sandness, now 31, and Lily have not met. But he has written her a letter, in which he spoke of her husband's favourite things. |
"He's still going to continue to love hunting and fishing and dogs - through me," he wrote. | "He's still going to continue to love hunting and fishing and dogs - through me," he wrote. |
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