Over six years, Derek underwent 58 reconstructive surgeries. Despite the surgeons’ countless hours of work, he still couldn’t recognize himself. He had lost one eye and couldn’t blink, struggled to speak and breathe normally, had lost his sense of smell, and relied on a feeding tube for nutrition.
Reflecting on his survival, Derek said, “I should have died that night, so I’m grateful to be alive.”
Following his final surgery in 2020, doctors told his parents that nothing more could be done—except for a face transplant. For Derek, this represented a turning point and his last hope. Face transplants are rare, with only a few specialized teams in the world.
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, informed him that the surgery would be their second ever and the most complex procedure they’d attempted. Derek’s transplant would replace 85 percent of his face, including the forehead, eyelids, nose, mouth, and jaws, using tissue, muscles, and nerves from a deceased donor.
During the operation, surgeons carefully reconnected tiny nerves between Derek and the donor tissue, restoring functions like blinking, eating, and smiling. The team practiced digitally using 3D scans for months, and after nine months of waiting, a donor became available in February. The two-and-a-half-day procedure was finally completed, and just a month later, Derek could see his new face for the first time.
“It was the most incredible moment of my life,” said his mother, Lisa. Derek now blends seamlessly in public, no longer drawing stares.
Beyond his recovery, Derek and Lisa have become motivational speakers, sharing his story to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. Derek hopes his journey inspires others to seek help, reconnect with loved ones, and embrace the opportunity for a new beginning.
“This transplant gave me a second chance at life,” Derek says. “I want to live fully, find love, get married, and start a family.”
