“They have given me a new life”

Despite all that, the surgery was life-changing. Not only did Patrick experience the joy of seeing his family again, but he also got to meet David Rodebaugh’s mother, Nancy Millar. Their first encounter after the surgery was an emotional one, and it turned out Nancy had one request.

“I said, ‘Can I kiss your forehead?’” Millar said. “That’s the one thing I wanted to do because every night before David went to bed when he was little, I kissed his forehead.”

“I’ve been waiting a year to meet her. I’m just very grateful,” Patrick said. “Without her, it wouldn’t have been possible. It’s like she’s family. We connected that easily.”

It’s now been seven years since Patrick underwent his face transplant. Since then, his life has changed plenty – he and Chrissi divorced a year after the surgery, following ten years of marriage.

Hardison’s face healed nicely, and the swelling has gone down. Though he has to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life to stop his body’s immune system from fighting the inserted transplant, it has given him the chance to live again.

“I am deeply grateful to my donor and his family,” Hardison said in a statement.

“Even though I did not know who they would be, I prayed for them every day, knowing the difficult decision they would have to make in order to help me. “

“I hope they see in me the goodness of their decision. I also want to thank Dr. Rodriguez and his amazing team. They have given me more than a new face. They have given me a new life.”