After a devastating accident, Derek spent six years enduring 58 surgeries that could never fully restore his face. He lost an eye, struggled to breathe and speak, and relied on tubes just to eat.
By 2020, his only hope was a full face transplant. At the Mayo Clinic, surgeons spent months preparing, then worked for two and a half days to replace 85% of his face.
The operation wasn’t just about appearance—it gave Derek back the ability to blink, smile, and reclaim pieces of the life he thought he’d lost forever.
