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#1
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05-29-2015, 04:32 AM
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Face Off
Rebekah Aversano was understandably emotional when she met the stranger who now wears her dead brother's face. Joshua Aversano, 21, was struck and killed while crossing a road. "Wow, this is the face I grew up with" said Rebekah Aversano When Joshua died in 2012, Rebekah and her family were asked to donate his face to save the life of a stranger. Though it was an incredibly hard decision, the family agreed. Richard Norris, the recipient says that the Aversano's generosity has turned his life around. Norris speaks to the family and keeps them updated on his life and health. Norris now 39, was only 22 when he accidentally blew off half of his face with a shotgun in 1997. I can only presume this was an accident. I don't know the details just the outcome from what I have read. The accident left him obviously not only grossly deformed but with no teeth, nose or sense of smell and only part of his tongue. Norris' face became the subject of bullying from those who he encountered on outings. Soon he became a recluse and only went outdoors at night and hidden behind a mask and hat MJ style if ever he had to go out into the light to avoid the cruelty, gawking and simply scaring people who saw him. He underwent more than 30 reconstructive operations but the long and painful process did little to restore his disfigured face leaving him depressed and suicidal. Norris is the first person in the world to receive a full face transplant. The intense, edgy and unknown (36-hour)procedure met it's fair share of problems, one of which being rejection. When Norris became sunburnt after he strutted his new face he suffered an "episode of rejection" I've had girlfriends who mad me have the same episodes Norris only had a 50 percent chance of survival so considering the odds, he and Charlie are winning. He will take a slew of anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life and is also instructed to not drink, smoke, get sunburned or risk injury. He basically isn't allowed to live once his face is transplant is finished. If the transplant is fully rejected, there will be nothing left of his face and he will die. "Every day I wake up with that fear: Is this the day? The day I'm going to go into a state of rejection that is going to be so bad that the doctors can't change it?" The end result is successful thus far with minimal complications. The medical nerds are buzzing as this huge breakthrough can help in the treatment of soldiers and other victims of severe facial injuries alike. Which is beyond fucking cool. I have attached a side by side photo of both Norris and Aversano in the post. The rest are obviously of Norris throughout his journey. I don't know why, but I am unable to post more than one pic, so I'll have to post the remaining photos in the comments below. I consent to anyone smarter than me (therefore being everyone http://www.documentingreality.com/fo...splant-114701/ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pe...r-9635058.html http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-1227373815272 ![]() |
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#5
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05-30-2015, 12:10 AM
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Re: Face Off
So amazing to see just how far science has taken us in the last 150 years. But....He kinda looks like William Mapother in some of these pics ![]() |
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#10
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05-31-2015, 11:11 PM
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Re: Face Off
Right!? I can't even imagine the emotions of the sister seeing this guy for the first time. I don't think I could meet him, talk, yes-meet no. Way happy for this guy now though. I am excited to see what this will bring for soldiers and people who need it too. |