Joe DiMeo, tıp literatürüne "yüz ve çift el nakli yapılan ilk başarılı hasta" olarak adını yazdırdı. Geçirdiği korkunç trafik kazasının ardından hayata tutunma öyküsünü yeni kitabında anlatan DiMeo, CNN International’a verdiği özel röportajda, tıbbi bir mucize olmanın ötesindeki duygusal ve fiziksel zorlukları paylaştı.
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.
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