A Woman Shares Her Love Story With a Man Who Suffered Burns on 80% of His Body

Joseph DiMeo was driving home after working a late-night shift in July 2018. The tired 22-year-old fell asleep at the wheel and his car hit a curb, flipped over, and burst into flames. A kind stranger pulled him out before the explosion.

DiMeo suffered third-degree burns on approximately 80% of his body, an injury that most people do not survive. DiMeo not only survived, but he also made history as the first person in the world who has successfully undergone a double hand and face transplant.

“His life was completely derailed” before the transplant.

Joseph spent several months in a medically induced coma and underwent 20 reconstructive surgeries and multiple skin grafts. His fingertips were amputated, his face was severely scarred, and his lips and eyelids were removed. These surgeries significantly diminished his vision, mobility, and quality of life. The previously independent young man who loved to work now required substantial assistance, with his mother stepping in as his primary caretaker.

Joseph opened up saying that it was a hard change. “Before the accident, I was a pretty independent person. I moved out of my parent’s house at 18 years old and worked a lot. When I moved from a coma and saw myself, it was a shock. I couldn’t really do anything. That’s not the kind of life I wanna live.”

There was nothing else that doctors could do with conventional surgeries to enhance his quality of life. So he was referred to Dr. Rodriguez at NYU Langone, one of the few hospitals in the country that offered a face transplantation program. “His life was completely derailed,” said Rodriguez.

Performing these operations carries significant risks, especially considering that no one in the world had achieved success with a double hand and face transplant. But DiMeo was the “perfect patient” to become the pioneer. He was young, healthy, and most importantly, “he had that one special element, which was a high level of motivation, and he had a tremendous sense of hope,” Rodriguez said. “He was the ideal type of patient for this challenge.”

It took a year to find a donor.

Doctors estimated he only had a 6% chance of finding a match compatible with his immune system, “a needle in a haystack,” the doctor said. In August 2020, the surgical team performed the transplantation of both hands up to the mid-forearm, including nerves, blood vessels, and 21 tendons. Additionally, for the face, they transplanted the forehead, eyebrows, ears, nose, eyelids, lips, as well as the underlying segments of the skull, cheekbones, nasal bone, and chin bone.

It was a very emotional moment when Joseph first met his parents after surgery. “Finally, the weight is lifted off their shoulders that their son is back to normal once again,” Rodriguez recalled. “I’d just like to recognize the selflessness of my donor and how none of this would be possible without his sacrifice,” DiMeo continued. After recovery, he’s able to get dressed, feed himself, play with his dog Buster, and lift light weights.

He began life with a clean slate and found love.

After the transplant and recovery, Joseph met Jessica, “I DMed her because we have dogs of the same breed. We talked a lot, and then she just drove to Jersey, which was like an hour’s drive.” The couple had a lot in common, a love of travel and good food.

After a while, they started dating. Jessica, in turn, admits, “My 24-year-old boyfriend has a face from a 47-year-old donor. When I met him, I never thought it was weird that he had someone else’s face.”

In her videos, she points out that Joseph is a wonderful person, trying to break stereotypes about how people view the love of her life. “He always inspires me with his ability to keep it going, to be positive. If I had a bad day, he’s the first person I talked to.” She continues, “I respect and love Joe.”

In spite of his difficult trials, he remains himself.

Joe admits that he didn’t change as a person, “It’s just like a shell, like a hermit crab. Still the same guy, still the same personality.”

He is now writing a book about his unique story. “I want to share my story to give people hope in the world,” DiMeo said. “In the future, I have a lot more plans for myself,” he said. “You got a new chance at life. You really can’t give up.”

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