http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/24/health/face-transplant-patrick-hardison/
(CNN)Patrick Hardison can now drive his children to school in the morning. He can swim in a pool, run his fingers through his hair and blink his eyes.
He can walk in crowds without strangers staring and pointing at him, and children running away crying, frightened by his face.
Firefighter describes life after historic face transplant: 'I have hope now'
By Jacqueline Howard, CNN
Updated 3:45 PM ET, Wed August 24, 2016
Texan Dallas Wiens, whose face was burned off after his head touched an electrical wire, was the first American to receive a full face transplant in March 2011.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
5 of 8
A 33-year-old Polish man identified only as Grzegorz received the country's first face transplant in May 2013, after being disfigured by a machine at a stonemason's workshop. Polish doctors described it as the world's first life-saving face transplant.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
6 of 8
American Richard Norris: left, in high school in 1993; center, after suffering a gunshot injury; right, after face transplant surgery.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
7 of 8
James Maki fell onto the electrified third rail at a Boston subway station on June 30, 2005, destroying the entire of the core of his face. After having a transplant, he said he couldn't wait to eat a ribeye steak.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
8 of 8
Patrick Hardison, 41, had <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/15/health/face-transplant-firefighter/index.html">face transplant surgery</a> in August 2015. The surgery was performed by a plastic surgeon from New York University Langone Medical Center. Hardison, a volunteer firefighter, was injured 15 years ago.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
1 of 8
In 2005, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, 39, was the first person to undergo a partial face transplant after being mauled by her dog. She is pictured a few months after her surgery and a year later.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
2 of 8
Connie Culp was injured when her husband shot her in 2004. She underwent a near-total face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 2008, the first operation of its kind in the United States.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
3 of 8
Li Guoxing, China's first partial face transplant patient, stands with his family in 2006. He died in 2008.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
4 of 8
Texan Dallas Wiens, whose face was burned off after his head touched an electrical wire, was the first American to receive a full face transplant in March 2011.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
5 of 8
A 33-year-old Polish man identified only as Grzegorz received the country's first face transplant in May 2013, after being disfigured by a machine at a stonemason's workshop. Polish doctors described it as the world's first life-saving face transplant.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
6 of 8
American Richard Norris: left, in high school in 1993; center, after suffering a gunshot injury; right, after face transplant surgery.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
7 of 8
James Maki fell onto the electrified third rail at a Boston subway station on June 30, 2005, destroying the entire of the core of his face. After having a transplant, he said he couldn't wait to eat a ribeye steak.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
8 of 8
Patrick Hardison, 41, had <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/15/health/face-transplant-firefighter/index.html">face transplant surgery</a> in August 2015. The surgery was performed by a plastic surgeon from New York University Langone Medical Center. Hardison, a volunteer firefighter, was injured 15 years ago.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
1 of 8
In 2005, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, 39, was the first person to undergo a partial face transplant after being mauled by her dog. She is pictured a few months after her surgery and a year later.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
2 of 8
Connie Culp was injured when her husband shot her in 2004. She underwent a near-total face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 2008, the first operation of its kind in the United States.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
3 of 8
Li Guoxing, China's first partial face transplant patient, stands with his family in 2006. He died in 2008.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
4 of 8
Story highlights
It's been a year since the most extensive face transplant in history was performed
Firefighter and transplant recipient Patrick Hardison says he has his life back
"This is the third face that Patrick lives with," doctor says
(CNN)Patrick Hardison can now drive his children to school in the morning. He can swim in a pool, run his fingers through his hair and blink his eyes.
He can walk in crowds without strangers staring and pointing at him, and children running away crying, frightened by his face.
About a year ago, the 42-year-old volunteer firefighter from Senatobia, Mississippi, couldn't do any of those things. His face was severely disfigured.
Hardison suffered extensive facial burns after responding to a house fire in 2001, and he lost his eyelids, ears, lips, hair and most of his nose. He used baseball caps and sunglasses to cover his scars and hide from the world.
All of that changed, however, when Hardison underwent the most extensive soft tissue face transplant ever performed last year. In fact, the surgery has given him back his life, he said.
"I'd like to say that I'm the same old Pat, but that would not give enough credit to the amazing journey that I have gone through over the past year," Hardison said at a news conference Wednesday.
"After my accident, my life was really hard. I hated life," he said. "I'm here today because I want others to see that there is hope beyond the injury. I'm especially proud to share my story with other injured firefighters, first responders and US military. If sharing my story helps just one person explore the possibility of face transplants, then it's worth it. ... I have hope now, and I want to help those that are injured know that there is hope for them, too."
(CNN)Patrick Hardison can now drive his children to school in the morning. He can swim in a pool, run his fingers through his hair and blink his eyes.
He can walk in crowds without strangers staring and pointing at him, and children running away crying, frightened by his face.
Firefighter describes life after historic face transplant: 'I have hope now'
By Jacqueline Howard, CNN
Updated 3:45 PM ET, Wed August 24, 2016
Texan Dallas Wiens, whose face was burned off after his head touched an electrical wire, was the first American to receive a full face transplant in March 2011.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
5 of 8
A 33-year-old Polish man identified only as Grzegorz received the country's first face transplant in May 2013, after being disfigured by a machine at a stonemason's workshop. Polish doctors described it as the world's first life-saving face transplant.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
6 of 8
American Richard Norris: left, in high school in 1993; center, after suffering a gunshot injury; right, after face transplant surgery.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
7 of 8
James Maki fell onto the electrified third rail at a Boston subway station on June 30, 2005, destroying the entire of the core of his face. After having a transplant, he said he couldn't wait to eat a ribeye steak.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
8 of 8
Patrick Hardison, 41, had <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/15/health/face-transplant-firefighter/index.html">face transplant surgery</a> in August 2015. The surgery was performed by a plastic surgeon from New York University Langone Medical Center. Hardison, a volunteer firefighter, was injured 15 years ago.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
1 of 8
In 2005, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, 39, was the first person to undergo a partial face transplant after being mauled by her dog. She is pictured a few months after her surgery and a year later.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
2 of 8
Connie Culp was injured when her husband shot her in 2004. She underwent a near-total face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 2008, the first operation of its kind in the United States.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
3 of 8
Li Guoxing, China's first partial face transplant patient, stands with his family in 2006. He died in 2008.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
4 of 8
Texan Dallas Wiens, whose face was burned off after his head touched an electrical wire, was the first American to receive a full face transplant in March 2011.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
5 of 8
A 33-year-old Polish man identified only as Grzegorz received the country's first face transplant in May 2013, after being disfigured by a machine at a stonemason's workshop. Polish doctors described it as the world's first life-saving face transplant.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
6 of 8
American Richard Norris: left, in high school in 1993; center, after suffering a gunshot injury; right, after face transplant surgery.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
7 of 8
James Maki fell onto the electrified third rail at a Boston subway station on June 30, 2005, destroying the entire of the core of his face. After having a transplant, he said he couldn't wait to eat a ribeye steak.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
8 of 8
Patrick Hardison, 41, had <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/15/health/face-transplant-firefighter/index.html">face transplant surgery</a> in August 2015. The surgery was performed by a plastic surgeon from New York University Langone Medical Center. Hardison, a volunteer firefighter, was injured 15 years ago.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
1 of 8
In 2005, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, 39, was the first person to undergo a partial face transplant after being mauled by her dog. She is pictured a few months after her surgery and a year later.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
2 of 8
Connie Culp was injured when her husband shot her in 2004. She underwent a near-total face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 2008, the first operation of its kind in the United States.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
3 of 8
Li Guoxing, China's first partial face transplant patient, stands with his family in 2006. He died in 2008.
Photos: Face transplants giving people back their lives
Show Caption
4 of 8
Story highlights
It's been a year since the most extensive face transplant in history was performed
Firefighter and transplant recipient Patrick Hardison says he has his life back
"This is the third face that Patrick lives with," doctor says
(CNN)Patrick Hardison can now drive his children to school in the morning. He can swim in a pool, run his fingers through his hair and blink his eyes.
He can walk in crowds without strangers staring and pointing at him, and children running away crying, frightened by his face.
About a year ago, the 42-year-old volunteer firefighter from Senatobia, Mississippi, couldn't do any of those things. His face was severely disfigured.
Hardison suffered extensive facial burns after responding to a house fire in 2001, and he lost his eyelids, ears, lips, hair and most of his nose. He used baseball caps and sunglasses to cover his scars and hide from the world.
All of that changed, however, when Hardison underwent the most extensive soft tissue face transplant ever performed last year. In fact, the surgery has given him back his life, he said.
"I'd like to say that I'm the same old Pat, but that would not give enough credit to the amazing journey that I have gone through over the past year," Hardison said at a news conference Wednesday.
"After my accident, my life was really hard. I hated life," he said. "I'm here today because I want others to see that there is hope beyond the injury. I'm especially proud to share my story with other injured firefighters, first responders and US military. If sharing my story helps just one person explore the possibility of face transplants, then it's worth it. ... I have hope now, and I want to help those that are injured know that there is hope for them, too."
