Category: News Author : Duncan Riley Posted: May 5, 2009
Tags : connie culp, connie culp face transplant, connie culp face transplant photos, face transplant, face transplant photos, face transplant pictures
Connie Culp, the first Face Transplant recipient in the U.S. has come forward 5 months after her remarkable surgery to talk about her experience.
Connie Culp’s Face Transplant Story
5 years ago, Connie Culp was the victim of one of the most brutal domestic violence attacks imaginable. She was shot in the face with a shotgun by her husband. It’s a miracle she even survived but about 80% of her face was missing, leaving her horribly disfigured.
In December 2008, Connie Culp had a face transplant where doctors removed a dead woman’s face and attached it to Connie. Until Tuesday, Culp’s identity and how she became disfigured were kept a secret.
In a press conference at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday, Connie Culp appeared before the cameras. her new face is still somewhat disfigured and the facial muscles have yet to heal enough for to be visually expressive, but she can talk, smile, taste and doctors say she’ll need more minor surgeries before it’s over, but they’re calling it a success.
At the press conference, Connie Culp says:
“I guess I’m the one you came to see today, I think it’s more important that you focus on the donor family that made it so I could have this person’s face. When somebody has a disfigurement and don’t look as pretty as you do, don’t judge them, because you never know what happened to them, Don’t judge people who don’t look the same as you do. Because you never know. One day it might be all taken away.”
Connie Culp Face Transplant Photos, Before and After
Connie Culp was released from the hospital on February 5th and has had to return for periodic follow up care. Incredibly, she has only had one mild rejection episode that was easily controlled with one treatment of steroid medicines, her doctors said. Connie will have to take immune-suppressing drugs for the rest of her life, but her dosage has been cut down to the point where she only needs a few pills a day.
The clinic expects to absorb the cost of the transplant because it was experimental, doctors said. Siemionow estimated it at $250,000 to $300,000. That is less than the $1 million that other surgeons estimate it costs them to treat other severely disfigured people through dozens of separate operations, she said.
Connie Culp Face Transplant Recipient Video
[Thanks Huffington Post for source and photos]
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May 5, 2009
You look beautiful hun, I am so happy for you!
May 5, 2009
You truly are an inspiration! I would never be able to handle what you've been though… I wish you happiness…you deserve it. p.s. you are beautiful
May 5, 2009
My dear lady.
You are an inspiration to us all.
Best wishes.
Stay strong.
May 5, 2009
You are beautiful Connie! I pray for continued healing for you. What a courageous woman you are-an inspiration to us all!
May 5, 2009
You have the unique opportunity to give hope to many. A real hero of the world.
May 5, 2009
“Brave heart”!!
May 5, 2009
Dear Connie,
You're amazing and great person – a real hero of our times! I wish you all, all the best.
Joanna, Warsaw, Poland
May 6, 2009
why her husband shot her? I think she's a very strong woman, no others will be able to live with it for the past 5 years. Well done to the surgeons and donor for her new face. God will bless these people and Connie.
May 6, 2009
A tsunami of feelings came up when I read Connie's story. While I did not endure the horrific experience that she did (being shot in the face — GAD — I can't even type it without shuddering violently), I *did* grow up with a rather gruesome facial birth defect on my left cheek.
I am completely sincere when I say that I cannot recall HOW many times I had wished for a face transplant! Anyone with a severe facial deformity (no matter the cause) can understand that. In “those days” (30+ years ago), however, plastic surgery was in its relative infancy — I had a total of 5 surgeries, including a skin graft — but they did a darn good job. I was/am lucky.
Connie, you are a SAINT. I say that as a woman endured many comments like you (about being called a “monster”), kids pointing fingers and staring, mouths agape, and being met with fear and/or pity. Like you, when confronted by an innocent child and/or a naive adult (a neighbor once refused to let his child come over to play at my house because he feared contagion, regardless of what my parents told him *sigh*), I wanted NOTHING MORE than to explain what happened. I believe that knowledge is power and wanted nothing more than to be treated like a “normal” human. I wholeheartedly join you on your crusade to “… to help foster acceptance of those who have suffered burns and other disfiguring injuries”!! Love you, girl.
May 6, 2009
i believe its a miracle this woman is alive. It wasn't the surgeons who saved her but through the grace of God she is alive. I'll be praying for Ms.Culp.
May 6, 2009
Dear Connie,
I was in tears of joy listening to your press conference. You are so brave, and you deserve all the love and luck in the world.
May 6, 2009
This story makes me cry, while the rest of us complain about our insignificant problems, she's gone through more than most people. Connie, you humble me. You're more beautiful than all the women out there. Please live a long and happy life.. all the best wishes.
May 7, 2009
how ranzig!
May 7, 2009
a very brave, courageous and very positive person Ms. Connie. keep up that strong spirit… be happy.. feel blessed…u are an inspiration to everybody. GOD bless always!
May 7, 2009
ha
May 8, 2009
What an inspiration this dear lady is. And we complain about superficial things. I wish her all the best
May 13, 2009
WOW you are an amazing woman for sure!!!
You are a beautiful person no matter what is on the oustide.
All The Best
May 16, 2009
I thank god for people like Connie Culp because she is a living testomony of a true miracle and work of god. You are truly awesome GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 21, 2009
You are a precious woman with a beautiful heart. You are turning adversity into a blessing for all of us to learn about looking a thinking more deeply about our own lives.
May 4, 2010
the husband should burn in hell
but this woman is an inspiration to everyone
amazing recovery
Sep 27, 2011
I think the lady that had her face ripped of by a Chimp, had her a facial transplant prior to this lady, but cudos to both an amazing misfortune to both, but they didn't give up, and fought on to live as normal a life as possible.