00:00This holiday season, we wanted to bring you an inspiring story of survival, science, and the strength of the human spirit.
00:08After a devastating car accident left him with burns over 80% of his body, Joe DiMeo faced years of unimaginable pain and uncertainty.
00:17At just 22, a historic surgery gave him a second chance at life.
00:22In 2020, Joe DiMeo became the world's first recipient of a successful face and double hand transplant.
00:30His new book, 80% Gone, tells a deeply personal story of resilience, recovery, and learning how to live again.
00:38Joseph DiMeo joins me now from New York.
00:41Joe, thank you so much for joining us.
00:44Thank you for your courage to speak out and for writing this book about the incredible turn that your life has taken after such tragedy.
00:55You became, as we noted, the first person to successfully receive a face and double hand transplant.
01:03How do you process the weight of both being a patient and a medical milestone?
01:11Thank you for having me on.
01:12And I think it was kind of easy to be a patient because I had a really good staff around me, some really good doctors and especially good nurses to take care of me after the surgery.
01:26And it's just being like a nice person.
01:28They'll take care of you like really good.
01:31And the book isn't just about surgery.
01:33It's about rebuilding your independence.
01:35You had a horrific car accident, which almost took your life.
01:40You fell asleep while driving.
01:43And you were in a coma for months and agony with pain for so much longer.
01:51Talk about the recovery process, both emotionally and physically, after undergoing everything that you endured following that surgery to then start to gain some independence.
02:03Yeah, that's a pretty good question.
02:06So, like in the burn unit, I think I was like pretty like happy-go-lucky.
02:12I didn't really know the significance of my burns.
02:15So, like that was like the emotional aspect.
02:17And they had me on a lot of medications.
02:19So, I was kind of in and out of it.
02:22But then like the physical aspect, that was hard because I lost about 30 pounds of muscle.
02:28And that's the reason why I survived.
02:30So, I couldn't walk again.
02:31I had to relearn to walk.
02:33And that was hard because just doing a sit-up, I was out of breath.
02:38It felt like I was running a mile.
02:40And then it took me like a day and a half just to stand up from the side of my bed.
02:44And it also took four and five nurses to help me stand too on top of that.
02:50Because I'm 6'1".
02:52At that time, I was 170.
02:53And it took all those nurses and PTs to hold me up.
02:58So, that was like really hard.
03:01Looking at this press release that was issued by NYU Langone, where this operation was conducted,
03:09more than 140 medical personnel were involved in your surgery, which took 23 hours to complete.
03:16Both your hands and your face came from a 47-year-old donor.
03:21So, someone nearly twice your age.
03:24What did you learn about this donor?
03:28Not too much.
03:29It's up to the donor family if they want to tell me more about it.
03:33But all I know is that he passed away of a stroke, and he was like 47 years old.
03:38That's it.
03:39But, you know, I understand that the donor family doesn't want to reach out.
03:43Because, you know, they lost a loved one.
03:45It's on like my face and hands.
03:47So, I totally understand.
03:48But I'm also like down to hang out with them too.
03:51So, like whatever they want.
03:52Well, they certainly gave you a new chance at life.
03:57And we should let our viewers know that you have taken that chance at life and blossomed.
04:04You have recently been married.
04:07You mentioned the nurses that helped you.
04:09Your wife, Jessica, learned about you through her colleagues at nursing school.
04:18And she watched a documentary about you.
04:20There we see the two of you together.
04:24Just talk about what she's added to your life.
04:28And reflect on all of the joy that you have to look forward to together in the years to come.
04:36She's a huge impact on my life now.
04:38She always helps me out every day.
04:40Like everything, like even the little things.
04:43They open up a jar because I can't do that.
04:45Anything like tight, I can't really do.
04:47So, she helps me out a lot.
04:48And then, you know, it's just also like inspires me to travel because I've never been to Hawaii before.
04:55And she's the reason why I went to Hawaii three times.
04:57So, I just open up a whole new like aspect in life and not be a homebody and just always helps me out.
05:03It's always there for me.
05:04Well, you really said it all in an interview with People Magazine.
05:11You said, it sucks.
05:12I got into the accident.
05:13I lost 80% of my skin.
05:16I have someone else's face and hands on me.
05:18But then I also found my life partner.
05:20And if I wouldn't have had the accident, I'd probably still be a cocky 26-year-old.
05:24I would prefer not to be burned, but I like my life now just because I have Jessica around.
05:31Please give Jessica our best joy, Joe, and continued joy and success for the two of you in your future together.
05:41Happy holidays.
05:42Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to you.
05:45Thank you for joining us.
05:46Thank you and happy holidays and Merry Christmas.
05:48Thank you.
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