On March 5, 2014, the life of Derek Pfaffa 19-year-old young man Michiganchanged drastically. Suffering from personal and emotional problems, He tried to end his life by shooting himself in the head. with a 10-gauge shotgun. Against all odds, he survived the impact, but The gunshot left him with devastating wounds that destroyed much of his face..
The tragedy occurred in the patio of his house, where his father, Jerry Pfaffwas the one who found it. Alerted by the absence of a weapon from the storage location, Jerry began a desperate search, which ended in a heartbreaking discovery.
Dereck’s injuries were so severe that He lost his nose, jaw, teeth and part of his forehead.
After the suicide attempt, the life of Derek Pfaff It became a constant struggle to recover basic functions and adapt to their new reality. During the decade following the incident, he underwent 58 reconstructive surgeriesprocedures that, although they saved his life, only achieved limited results. These operations were essential to stabilize his health, partially reconstruct his face and allow him to perform daily tasks such as breathing or eating, albeit with assistance.
Despite these medical efforts, Derek continued to face serious difficulties. His injuries were so extensive that he could not smile, blink, chew solid food or smell. Doctors tried to reconstruct his jaw and other facial tissues, but, as his mother explained, Lisa Pfaff a CNN, “There really wasn’t anything else those hospitals or institutions could do for him.” Each surgery helped improve his condition, but the damage was so deep that Traditional procedures have reached their limits.
It was at that critical moment when specialists recommended a facial transplant as the only viable option to offer you a more functional life. The decision to embark on this highly complex surgery marked a turning point in his history, leading him to Mayo Clinic Reconstructive Transplant Program.
In February 2024, Derek Pfaff underwent a facial transplant at the renowned Mayo Clinicin Rochester, Minnesota. This procedure, considered one of the most complex in reconstructive surgery, involved a team of more than 80 medical professionals and lasted more than 60 hours. Under the direction of the doctor Samir Mardinia specialist in facial reconstructive surgery, the team replaced approximately the 85% of Derek’s faceincluding fundamental structures such as the mandible, maxilla and other essential tissues.
Preparation for the surgery began months before, with a detailed digital surgical plan. Using three-dimensional scans of the donor and recipient’s faces, surgeons rehearsed the procedure virtually to ensure precise execution. One of the most challenging aspects was the connection of the 18 major facial nerves between the donor and recipient.a task that required ensuring functionality to blink, eat, speak, and express emotions.
The transplant was made possible thanks to an anonymous donor and the support of his family, whose generosity allowed Derek to receive the necessary tissue. As detailed by Dr. Mardini in the report of the Mayo Clinic, This procedure was not only focused on aesthetics, but on restoring Derek’s ability to live a full life. “You can live without a face, but you miss out on a lot of life experiences,” he explained.
For the first few weeks after the operation, Derek had no access to mirrors or devices to avoid early emotional impact while his face healed. Finally, when he was able to see his reflection, although still without complete facial movement, he expressed in the same report published by the Mayo Clinic with emotion: “You can see it well. It feels good”.
After more than a decade living with the aftermath of his suicide attempt, Derek Pfaff He underwent a radical transformation thanks to the transplant. After the 60-hour surgery, his recovery and rehabilitation required months of dedication, with additional procedures and therapies to optimize the functionality and appearance of his face.
For the first time in 10 years, Derek can now once again perform actions that were previously impossible for him. He regained the ability to smile, smell, blink y chew solid foodsessential actions that represented a significant advance in their quality of life. Reconnecting the nerves in his face allowed his facial expressions to become more natural over time, thanks to strict rehabilitation.
Recovery also involved a psychological challenge. Derek had to adapt to his new image and deal with the emotions related to this drastic change. Far from being discouraged, he embraced his transformation as a second chance. “This surgery transformed my life. “I feel much more confident,” he shared in statements with himself. Mayo Clinic.
The rehabilitation process included multiple interventions to adjust functional and aesthetic details, as well as sessions with physical and occupational therapists to improve muscle control and facial sensitivity. According to the Mayo Clinicthe progress in his recovery was encouraging, and Derek demonstrated remarkable perseverance at every stage of the process.
With his new appearance and abilities restored, Derek began to look toward the future with hope, setting goals that previously seemed impossible. “I hope to one day meet someone, start a family,” he commented in the report.
The facial transplant not only restored Derek Pfaff essential functions and a renewed appearance, but it also marked an emotional and spiritual rebirth for him. After years of struggle and isolation, Derek found this transformation a reason to move forward. “I am very grateful to my donor, his family and my care team for giving me this second chance,” he said.
Derek decided to share his story to help others facing similar challenges and raise awareness about the importance of suicide prevention. “I live for a reason, I want to help others,” he said, highlighting the need for those who suffer to talk about their feelings and seek support.
By his example, Derek has inspired many people to reflect on the effects of suicide and the power of resilience. Now he is a strong defender of opening spaces for dialogue to deal with emotional problems and prevent similar tragedies. Its message is clear and forceful: “Talk to someone, tell how you feel.”
Additionally, his story has strengthened the connection with his native community in Harbor Beach, MichiganUnited States where it is seen as a symbol of hope and improvement. His mother, Lisa Pfaffhe highlighted in dialogue with the CNN the transformative impact of this process: “The generosity of a donor not only gave Derek a new face, but also saved other lives. “That is the greatest gift anyone can give.”
facial transplant Derek Pfaff It also marked a significant advance in reconstructive surgery and in understanding the social impact of these procedures. This type of intervention, still rare—with less than 50 carried out worldwide—underlines the importance of medical innovation to offer solutions to extreme cases.
The participation of the Mayo Clinicrecognized for its excellence in research and clinical practice, positioned this procedure as an outstanding example of multidisciplinary collaboration. More than 80 medical professionalsincluding surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and technicians, worked in a coordinated manner to achieve the success of this complex operation.
Besides, the use of advanced digital toolssuch as facial nerve mapping and three-dimensional surgical planning, demonstrated how technology is redefining the boundaries of reconstructive medicine.
In his native community of Harbor Beach, Dereck has gone from being a promising young sportsman to becoming an example of strength and resilience. Her experience has opened a broader dialogue about suicide prevention, mental health, and the ability of science to provide second chances.
This case also highlights the importance of continuing to develop and support advanced reconstructive surgery programs. As the doctor said Samir Mardini in the report of the Mayo Clinic“facial transplant surgery is not only an aesthetic operation, but an intervention that changes lives.”
In the United States, there is the National Suicide Prevention Network to ask for help, you can call 1-888-628-9454 or 1-800-273-8255, the National Suicide Prevention Service line, to talk to someone that will provide you with free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CDC also recommends its own prevention policies, programs, and practices.
Suicide prevention line in Argentina: the Suicide Assistance Center offers guidance and support. They have a suicide prevention line available at telephone 135 (toll-free) or at (011)5275-1135 and 0800 345 1435 for calls from all over the country.
In Mexico, for those seeking help or assistance in relation to suicide, there is the Life Line: 800-911-2000, this service is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In Colombia, the Line of Life provides emotional support to individuals facing suicide or anguish crises. This service is available in several cities in the country. In Bogotá, you can contact us through line 106 or via WhatsApp at 3007548933. Barranquilla has line 339 99 99, while in Medellín there is the Línea Amiga at 444 44 48.
In Cali, as in Bogotá, the hotline is 106. These lines offer an immediate response to those who need help in critical moments.
In Peru, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) offers emotional support through Line 113 Salud, accessible nationally by telephone, WhatsApp or Telegram at numbers 955557000 and 952842623.
In Spain, the Ministry of Health has established Line 024 for attention to suicidal behavior.
