Connie Culp - First Face Transplant Recipient Identity Revealed
The identity of the first person to undergo a successful face transplant has been revealed. Her name is Connie Culp.
Culp, 46, was the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband. He shot her in the face after being involved in a dispute in 2003.
The surgical procedure was conducted at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio on December 9 and took twenty two hours and 18 medical staff to complete.
Prior to the surgery, Connie Culp had lost many abilities that are taken for granted, including the ability to drink out of a cup and the ability to eat solid foods. She also suffered from tremendous amounts of physical pain.
Connie Culp is a survivor. She told local media, "You never know what might happen to you, you might get in a car wreck, think you're beautiful one day, so don't judge people that don't look the same as you do, because you never know. One day, it might be all taken away."
Months after the surgery, Connie has restored her ability to drink out of a cup and can once again enjoy solid food.
Although she'll be required to stay on medication to prevent rejection of her reconstructed face and she requires another surgery to remove excess skin, Connie Culp has been given a second chance to lead a normal life.
One of her doctors said, "We hope that face transplantation and this donor gift for the future will help many patients like Connie who would like and dream to go on the street, blend in to the crowd and be invisible."
Copyright 2007-2010 by Times of the Internet. All Rights Reserved.
