A Mississippi volunteer firefighter has received a ground breaking facial transplant in New York.
It has been noted as the most extensive face transplant ever performed, reports WAPT. Patrick Hardison, 41, of Senatobia was fighting a fire in 2001 when the roof of the burning home collapsed leaving him badly burned.
In August he went to New York to undergo surgery that would change his life, and his appearance.
The donor for Hardison’s face came from David P. Rodenbaugh, 26. He was an Ohio-born Brooklyn artist who was also an avid cycling enthusiast. He passed away due to injuries from an accident.
Rodenbaugh’s mother, Nancy Miller, said that they wanted to honor David’s decision to donate his organs so that others like Patrick can live on in his memory and benefit from the generosity. The transplant covered nearly all of Hardison’s head and down to his collar bones and down his neck. The surgery was performed by Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez and his team of physicians.
Hardison says he is grateful to his donor, and the team that made this possible. He says it has given him a new life. He looks forward to being able to drive again once his eyesight has been completely restored.
