A 24-year-old man who underwent the world’s first face and double hand transplant announced he’s found love five years after a horrific accident that burned 80% of his body.
Five years after his horrific accident, a man who had the world’s first face and double hand transplant has announced that he has found love.
Joe DiMeo, 24, of New Jersey, suffered third-degree burns to 80 percent of his body after his Dodge Challenger crashed in July 2018.
Joe needed 20 restorative plastic surgery and skin grafts in the months that followed.
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He then spent 23 hours receiving the groundbreaking transplants in August 2020. A stroke victim who died at the age of 48 donated Joe’s face.
Jessica Koby, 32, was inspired by Joe’s positive view on life after reading about his multiple operations and messaged him on Instagram.
The two bonded via their mutual love of Boston Terrier dogs and have gradually gotten to know each other over the past two years.
The pair bonded over their shared love of Boston Terrier dogs and have slowly been getting to know each other over the past two years.
Jessica – who works as a nurse – said: ‘We developed a relationship initially long distance and then I moved from southern California to be closer to him and it has been great ever since.
‘He is a pretty quiet guy so at first when you’re just getting to know him he keeps to himself and just observes his surroundings.
‘He is very knowledgeable and anyone he talks to he can carry a conversation with.
‘I really like that about him because I think that someone who is educated and speaks well is very attractive. I love that he is gentle, kind, and he is so courageous.
‘For everything he has gone through, he remains so positive and such a light.
‘I love Joe inside and out because he is a funny guy, he knew what he wanted in life and was very mature for his age.’
Thanks to extensive therapy, Joe has slowly started gaining his independence back and is now even driving again.
He explained: ‘When I was burnt I was not looking for love but I was always confident it would happen eventually because I am the same on the inside.
‘Nothing has changed besides my skin. Now it’s really just amazing getting independence again.
‘After surgery, I was like at 0% – I couldn’t really do anything. Now I feel like I’m at 50%. I can cook, clean, and do laundry and I can move my phone better.
‘I can drive again. I just drive my girlfriend’s Subaru Crosstrek. I don’t have my car yet.
‘I didn’t really think I could motivate people until someone DM’d me saying ‘You saved me from suicide’.
‘I never thought I could do that with my story and that has pushed me to share it more and more.
‘I have had a couple of burnt people hit me up about how to cope. I just tell them to just keep acting how they’ve always acted.
‘You’ll find out who your real friends are doing that. It’s way easier said than done, and I always say that too.’
In 2018, Joe fell asleep at the wheel of his car after working a night shift. The car crashed after he hit a curb, then exploded and he only survived because people pulled him from the flames.
Joe continued: ‘I was 80% burnt. They had to amputate my fingertips to the second knuckle and then they had to suture my eyelids because they were burned. It was like looking out of a chain link fence.
‘I was ready for the transplant when it was offered to me. I didn’t want to live how I was living.’
For the first time since his transplants, Joe has spoken about his donor – who passed away when he was double Joe’s current age.
He said: ‘It didn’t feel weird being given the face of someone nearly twice my age because I was just completely ready to start my life again.
‘This is who I am now, and I came to terms with that quite quickly really […]
‘My donor was a 48-year-old stroke victim from Delaware who died two days before my surgery.
‘That’s literally all I know because the doctors flat out refused to tell me anymore.
‘I’ve never had any contact with his family or friends or anyone who knew him. I even wanted a guy or a girl just to make the process faster.
‘I told my doctor I would prefer a girl’s face just so I wouldn’t have to shave all the time!
‘They took the skin and then the muscles, the tendons, the nerves, and all the little veins that are attached to it to get the blood to flow to the skin.
‘It was really intense when I came round. As soon as I woke up I had nurses and occupational therapists on me instantly.
occupational therapists on me instantly.
‘It was super difficult. For the first couple of weeks, I wasn’t physically able to even move my fingers.
‘They would have to move them for me just so the muscle memory could get there.
‘I was trying to get muscle memory by pinching each finger and then pretending to pick up foam cubes and trying to grab a water bottle.
‘When people saw me for the first time, my parents were happy and everyone was happy for me.’
Following the life-changing accident, Joe says he learned the hard way who his real friends were.
He explained: ‘When I had the accident, I lost a lot of fake friends.
‘It was sad to see my fake friends all go but then you realise who your real friends are and you appreciate them more.
‘So all I had left was my real friends and they have always supported me in whatever I wanted to do.
‘People look at me, which doesn’t bother me. I’m 6’1’ and wide and then on top of that, I wear short sleeves a lot of the time so you can see my burnt arms.
‘So I don’t mind people staring because I would stare too. I could do a pity party but that’s just not me.
‘I’m writing a book so I want to get that out, we’re looking at houses because our apartment is just too small for us right now, and I’d like to get my own car.
‘I’ll be on medication for the rest of my life. I take like 15 pills a day.
‘The main three just prevent my transplants from being rejected and the rest are just electrolytes that all the transplant meds take away.’
