In 2001, Patrick Hardison was working as a volunteer firefighter just outside Senetobia, Mississippi. He went out on a call to a house fire, and according to The Washington Post, was trapped when the roof collapsed. Some of Hardison's protective gear was knocked off and he was exposed to the flames. Though he was able to escape with his life, the accident left his face severely disfigured.
The Washington Post reported that Hardison underwent over 70 surgeries and skin grafts before he became a patient of Eduardo D. Rodriguez, chair of plastic surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center.
On Aug. 14, Rodriguez began the world's "most extensive face transplant surgery," as reported by Newsweek. Hardison's procedure was covered by a grant from NYU Langone amounting to about $1 million. The team of 150 medical professionals took one year to practice for the surgery, as they only had one chance to get it right.
After 26 hours of operation, Rodriguez announced that the surgery had been a success and that Hardison was recovering. Newsweek wrote that Hardison was given new lips, ear, cheeks and eyelids. His hair had even begun to grow back.
To see Hardison's amazing transformation, click here.