First US face transplant

[Perdita]

The first US face transplant patient has braved the glare of publicity to show what modern medicine can do.

Connie Culp's new look is a far cry from the puckered, noseless sight that made children run away in horror five years ago after a shotgun blast took away the centre of her face..

Her expressions are still a bit wooden, but she can talk, smile, smell and taste her food again.

Her speech is at times a little tough to understand. Her face is bloated and squarish, and her skin droops in big folds that doctors plan to pare away as her circulation improves and her nerves grow, animating her new muscles.

But she had nothing but praise for those who made her new face possible.

"I guess I'm the one you came to see today," the 46-year-old Ohio woman said at a news conference at the Cleveland Clinic, where the groundbreaking operation was performed. But "I think it's more important that you focus on the donor family that made it so I could have this person's face."

Until Tuesday Mrs Culp's identity and how she came to be disfigured were a secret. Her husband, Thomas, shot her in 2004, then turned the gun on himself. He went to prison for seven years. His wife was left clinging to life. The blast shattered her nose, cheeks, the roof of her mouth and an eye.

A plastic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr Risal Djohan, looked at her injuries two months later. "He told me he didn't think, he wasn't sure, if he could fix me, but he'd try," Mrs Culp recalled.

On December 10, in a 22-hour operation, Dr Maria Siemionow led a team of doctors who replaced 80% of Mrs Culp's face with bone, muscles, nerves, skin and blood vessels from another woman who had just died. It was the fourth face transplant in the world, although the others were not as extensive.

No information has been released about the donor or how she died, but her family members were moved when they saw before-and-after pictures of Mrs Culp, Dr Siemionow said.


That is so amazing, well done to the medical team

[Pinkbanana]

I think it's truly amazing and I'm sooo happy for her that it seems to have worked.

I can't believe though (I read today) that she is considering getting back with her hubby - he was the one who shot her in the face to start with!!!

[Chloe O'brien]

What a remarkable woman to go throught something so tramatic as that to start to rebuild her life again. The doctors have done a wonderful job. She must be a saint if she is considering taken her husband back.

[Abigail]

I saw the before photos and they're awful. It's amazing how much improvement the operation has made. She was a beautiful woman before.

Not sure I could get back with my husband after he did that to me.

[Perdita]

I certainly would never ever go back with somebody who has done this to me. How can she trust him not to do her more harm again at some time?

[Abbie]

Wow Ive seen more pics as well and that is amazing

[Chloe O'brien]

I certainly would never ever go back with somebody who has done this to me. How can she trust him not to do her more harm again at some time?

Maybe she feels that if she takes him back it will make him feel the pain and humiliation she has had to suffer, by taking him back is forcing him to see the damage he has done every day. For whatever her reasons are she is a better and more forgiven person than I would be.

[Perdita]

But to make somebody look at what he/she has done does not make the best basis for a relationship, I would be too scared in her shoes. But then I do not know what was behind the attack in the first place and wish her good luck, if she goes back with him.

[Pinkbanana]

But to make somebody look at what he/she has done does not make the best basis for a relationship, I would be too scared in her shoes. But then I do not know what was behind the attack in the first place and wish her good luck, if she goes back with him.

I guess we dont know the circumstances surrounding the shooting or what their relationship was like.... Maybe she thinks she wont get anyone else and if he is truly sorry and wants to be with her still, then I can sort of understand why she would consider it...

[Tigerpip]

Goodness me, what a brave and wonderful woman. (thanks for posting this article perdita)
I too, have seen the before and after pictures.
I am amazed that she had the strength and determination to go through with this surgery, to improve her life and retain dignity.
I am sure that she will encounter lots of *humps in the road* along the journey to recovery - but with a tenacious spirit like that - she is one hell of a woman- and I for one, would like to see her strive in life - and love!
*T*

oopsy - forgot to mention the wonderful surgical team how amazing are they! - YAY!!