Patrick Hardison’s life story is nothing short of astounding. His life took a tragic turn in 2001 when he suffered severe burns on his face and neck while battling a house fire. Prior to this incident, Patrick had a fulfilling life, having worked as a volunteer firefighter.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Patrick refused to give up. In 2015, he underwent a groundbreaking face transplant surgery, becoming the first person in the United States to receive one. The procedure was a resounding success, and Patrick’s life has been transformed as a result.
Looking back at his journey, it’s clear that Patrick’s resilience and strength of character are what carried him through the darkest days of his life. Today, he serves as an inspiration to countless individuals around the world who are facing similar struggles.
As Patrick recounted the horrific incident, he described how his mask began to melt onto his face, while the hose he was using was already melting as well. Jimmy Neal, a first responder and friend of Patrick, shared with CBS News his shock at seeing Patrick’s condition after the accident. “For somebody who does what we do for a living, I’ve never seen anybody burned that bad that was still alive,” he said.
The fire had caused third-degree burns to Patrick’s face and scalp, along with his head, neck, and upper chest. The damage was extensive, with his ears, lips, most of his nose, and even the tissue in his eyelids being destroyed. Despite the severity of his injuries, Patrick survived the ordeal, showcasing his remarkable will to live.
According to Fox News, Patrick revealed that he didn’t see his own reflection until two months after his injury in September. He recalled looking in the mirror through a small pinhole in one of his eyelids, which had been left open to allow for a skin graft. His reaction was one of despair: “this is it? I can’t do this,” he said.
Over the years, Patrick underwent more than 70 surgeries and other procedures to address the extensive damage to his face and eyes. Despite these efforts, he remained in constant discomfort, unable to close his eyes and at risk of going blind. The psychological toll was also immense, as Patrick was unable to adjust to his new appearance and struggled to interact with others. He avoided mirrors and found it challenging to be around his own children or go out in public due to the constant stares and attention his disfigured face drew.
Patrick often wore a baseball cap and sunglasses to protect himself and blend in. He also had artificial ears. “I had kids. It was a difficult time. I never had a break from the injury. When I went out in public, it was a daily struggle. And, you know, it’s just indescribable,” he shared with Yahoo! Sports.
“When you go to a ball game, you have to mentally prepare yourself for the child who will run away screaming.”
As the years went by, Patrick eventually gave up hope of ever living a normal life. However, after a Frenchwoman named Isabelle Dinoire had a partial face transplant due to serious scarring from her pet dog, it was a groundbreaking moment. This was the first procedure of its kind, and it undoubtedly gave Patrick, who was struggling at the time, a glimmer of hope.
When Patrick reached out to Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez from the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, he was informed that if a suitable donor became available, the transplant procedure could be performed. It wasn’t always a straightforward process, but one day, an unexpected donor appeared, and a match was made.
The donor was David Rodebaugh, a 26-year-old who had suffered a severe head injury in a cycling accident and was declared brain dead. His face was a match for Patrick.
David’s mother, Nancy Millar, made the decision to donate her son’s organs, including his face. “I said, ‘You better save his face. He has the face of a porcelain doll.’ And he’s a donor — we had talked about it,” Millar explained.
Knowing that her son’s face would continue to live on through the people whose lives he was about to save, including Patrick’s, gave Millar comfort.
Nancy reminisced about meeting Patrick and being struck by his robust, masculine demeanor, which reminded her of David. David’s dream was to become a firefighter, and Nancy believed that someone who would willingly put themselves in harm’s way to save others possessed the same inner strength as David.
The long-awaited day of the transplant surgery had arrived, and a team of 100 experts worked tirelessly for 26 grueling hours to complete the operation. Patrick’s chances of survival were only 50/50 due to the high level of risk involved. Thankfully, the procedure was a resounding success, with Patrick receiving new facial features, scalp, ears, and ear canals. He was also given new eyelids, which allowed him to blink naturally and preserve his vision.
Reflecting on the experience, Patrick remarked that everything in life comes with a certain level of risk. Whether you are walking down the street and get hit by a car or lying on an operating table, when it is your time to go, you will go.
Despite having to take anti-rejection medications since his surgery to prevent his immune system from rejecting his new face, Patrick has been thriving. The surgery not only gave him a new appearance but also a new lease on life.
Currently divorced and in the process of writing a book, Patrick aims to inspire those who feel stuck in their current predicament. “I want to demonstrate to the world that there is always hope. I don’t want people in situations like mine years ago to feel like they have to settle. They don’t. Anything is possible,” Patrick affirms.
His survival and recovery are considered miraculous, and they are attributed to the expertise of Dr. Rodriguez and his team, as well as Patrick’s unrelenting determination. Today, Patrick is content and grateful to Nancy and his team for the remarkable change in his life.
