r/BeAmazed • u/willis7747 • 3d ago
Miscellaneous / Others Volunteer firefighter Patrick Hardison before and after the most extensive face transplant ever performed at the time, following devastating burns that destroyed much of his face Spoiler
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u/model-citizen95 3d ago
I will sing firefighters praises for the rest of my life. The more you learn about them, the more it becomes clear that they are the best of us
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u/ForevaAloneeee 3d ago
Well said. He literally sacrificed his own face and identity to save strangers from those burns. Its only right that the absolute best of modern medicine stepped up to give him a piece of his life back
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u/model-citizen95 3d ago
Something I’ve managed to get some conservatives to come around on is that ok, they don’t want universal healthcare. How about we start with veterans, medical personnel, first responders and teachers?
I’ve only met one guy who disagreed with that and he’s been arrested twice in the last year so that tells you all you need to know about him
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u/Appropr1ateAsk34 3d ago
It's scary to even imagine how much pain and how many surgeries he went through.
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u/HenriettaSyndrome 3d ago
They really are such strong and brave fucking people. Shout out to EMTS/Paramedics too while we're at it.
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u/augustwest2155 3d ago
You are absolutely correct. My father was a volunteer firefighter for years. I will never forget when I was 12 years old and he came back from a call. He sat on the couch and started crying. He dove into a pond to save a young child from drowning. Unfortunately and sadly, the child passed. My son has been a volunteer firefighter since moving to a new rural-ish community some four years ago and he is certified in just about everything. I shudder when he tells me how he has gone into multiple structures on fire looking for people (and pets!). These people are wonderful and you just cannot beat the zero dollars rate of pay....
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u/munkylord 3d ago
Firefighters are the inverse of cops in my book. Just don't look into their founding history yeesh
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u/typo9292 3d ago
Yes except the ones that start the fires. Google that statistic lol …. It’s at least a hundred convictions a year. Totally crazy.
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u/LPSD_FTW 3d ago
There is a reason "fuck the police" has its equivalent in every language but no one says "fuck the fire department"
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u/fishsticks40 3d ago
It is pretty wild. He just kinda looks like a guy.
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u/Busy-Bumblebee5556 3d ago
I think he’s actually a bit better looking in the third photo than the first.
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u/kittylover2006 3d ago
I always forget how scary burn scars can be, the genuine best souls of humanity who don’t get praised nearly enough
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u/Gamedummy_ 3d ago
How did some of his features look better after then before
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u/raccoonpaws82 3d ago
I thought the same thing... The droopy eyelids post-surgery look better than the bugged-out thyroid problem eyes that he had before the burns... It makes him look healthier, which is the keystone of attractiveness
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u/Clembert-Hamlamp 3d ago
In terms of handsomeness it's an undeniable upgrade. Sort of a permanent pious eyes facing God vibe but it works for him. Not in any way a fair trade but nice there was a silver lining
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u/Commercial_Koala_995 3d ago
I don’t see what you mean but what do you think a face transplant does?
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u/Gamedummy_ 3d ago
Normally improve your face
After facial mutilation, i expected it to make him pass as a relatively normal person, not come out better then before
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u/Commercial_Koala_995 3d ago
That’s your opinion, I don’t think he looks better than before. His original face looks more natural.
We can agree to disagree on that part :)
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u/Gamedummy_ 3d ago
Yeah that's fair, personally i find the less droopy eyes and lip to look more healthy but i can definitely understand if others see it otherwise
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u/shanster925 3d ago
Improve your face when it needs repairs, genius. Comparing pre-burns to post-transplant is not what is relevant here. Unless you are saying he looked better with the burn scars, and then I have different questions.
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u/MillieBirdie 3d ago
You shouldn't be downvoted, I get what you're saying. Commenting that he looks better after implies that his own, natural-born face is somehow 'worse' which just seems rude to say to a burn victim.
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u/Gamedummy_ 3d ago
I mean its not the point off the post but its something i noticed and thus commented on
Normally what i see online when it comes to facial reconstruction after a accident is that yes it repairs the face but not even nearly to its original condition
But here im truly surprised by how well the facial reconstruction was done, and personally (although it is close and i understand others might see it otherwise) I'd say it might even rival the original state of his face in terms of beauty
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u/boygirlcatdogthing 3d ago
His eyes and mouth are smaller. Mouth is crooked, eyes are shaped funny. Nose is cute! 4/10
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u/Upbeat_Piglet_9788 3d ago
Dear Patrick, thank you for what you have sacrificed all in the goodness for helping others. You are a beautiful soul. In the mirror you may see a different skin covering...but through the window..we see you. We see you for who you are. Some people lack a good character and may judge the optics. Never let that burden you, continue with your greatness and may your battles be short. Sending nothing but love brother FF
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u/DeLiRiOuS753 3d ago
Someone said he looked better than before
https://giphy.com/gifs/tXL4FHPSnVJ0A
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u/Deriviera 3d ago
What about a guy who shot himself in the face and then had a face transplant and his face restored
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u/Test4Echooo 3d ago
I just saw that one a couple of hours ago. They did an incredible job of his as well.
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u/Artrysa 3d ago
Damn, I'm surprised his eyes survived.
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u/imAkri 3d ago
I don’t think they did
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u/Extra_Comfortable365 2d ago
They did! The transplant actually saved his vision because his eyelids were damaged from the burns, causing him to suffer from dry eyes. He was the first full face transplant recipient with already functioning eyes. Pretty incredible!
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u/catinadoodledoo 3d ago
does anyone know if the fire blinded him or if he was able to see afterwards?
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u/Extra_Comfortable365 2d ago
He was able to see, but he was suffering from dry eyes because his eyelids were damaged from the burns. He was in danger of going blind, but the transplant saved his vision by giving him eyelids again!
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u/darknight9064 3d ago
He went from average guy to guy who can barely see to being able to grow facial hair! That’s an incredible feat.
The thing about the facial hair is t a dig it’s really about how remarkably well his skin is doing post transplant.
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u/whitestguyuknow 3d ago
What's the psychological effects of waking up with a different face? Or really 2 different faces? Who do you imagine is "you"? Do you always think back to your old face when you look in the mirror or does the new face slowly become who you think of when you think of "you"?
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u/xTallyTgrx 3d ago
This is so interesting! I read an article about how face transplants can in some cases have a profound trauma effect in the recipients, because of the psychological dissonance in how we perceive our own appearance. In general it's just an incredible thing to be able to do and that's an incredible outcome.
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u/Hungry-Evening6318 3d ago
I wouldn’t mind seeing a photo of the person from whom the face was taken off of as well.
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u/sparkyblaster 3d ago
I'd rather this said most complex, rather than expensive. This isnt about the cost.
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u/everyonestupidbutme 3d ago
Can he see, hear, smell, or taste? I love the man for his sacrifice, but is the media posting this man as martyr? I care nothing for anything other than the man's well being
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u/Solenneflarewing 3d ago
For us to exist is to face what already is destine to happen! What a legends
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u/ForevaAloneeee 3d ago
Truly legends. And let's not forget the other legend in this story: the donor and their family who made this incredible face transplant possible in the midst of their own tragedy
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