Transplant gives new face, scalp to burned firefighter

Rodebaugh died in July when he crashed and hit his head while riding in Brooklyn. His mother gave permission to use his face, telling hospital staff that Rodebaugh had always wanted to be a firefighter.

In August Dr Eduardo Rodriguez performed the transplant over 26 hours giving the 41-year-old the face of David Rodebaugh. Now three months later, Hardison is still recovering. “For him it was so remarkable that no one stared at him…. It was very emotional for us”.

For 14 years, Hardison hadn’t been able to venture outside without calling attention to himself. Those days are now over.

It all began in 2001 in Hardison’s native Mississippi.

Patrick Hardison before his face was severely burned.

Hardison held his breath and jumped out a window.

Patrick’s injuries were extensive. He had third degree burns of his entire face and scalp.

Hardison received a full scalp and face including lips, nose, ears, and upper and lower eyelids. But the doctors couldn’t reconstruct his eyelids, ears, and more. That operation was paid for by the United States military.Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez first promised Hardison he would “make [him] normal” when they first met in 2012. He will also have regular monthly checkups with Dr. Rodriguez and the face transplant team.

While the medical team searched for a donor – someone who was a match with Patrick on certain biological traits and also had similar skin and hair coloring – Patrick stayed optimistic.

And then Rodebaugh, who was an organ donor, had his fateful accident.

Hardison was grateful to David’s family.

I thought about the risk of dying because that never scares me because I lived. “I could see just a little bit”, he recalled.

The surgery took a total of 26 hours and involved more than 100 people.

In August 2014, Hardison was officially placed on a waiting list for a facial transplant. In addition, the amount of tissue that was transplanted in Patrick’s face had not been transplanted before…. It extends from the top of his head, over his skull, and down to the collarbone, fitting Hardison like a hood.

Hardison’s transplant included ears and ear canals, eyelids (including the muscles that control blinking of the lids), and bony portions of the chin, cheeks, and the whole nose. In addition, the doctors identified important blood vessels and nerves that would need to be preserved and re-attached when the face was transplanted, he said.

The medical costs were between $850,000 and $1 million, he added, including care prior to the operation and following the procedure.

He is now still undergoing physiotherapy at the hospital in NY, but hopes to return to his home in MS by the end of the month. “I wish Patrick and his family all the best as he embarks on a new life”.

He said he looks forward to being able to drive again, with his eyesight restored to normal.

He’s been told he can’t return to firefighting because of insurance concerns.