Chinanews, August 3, according to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) report, Connie Karp, the first patient in the United States to undergo a facial transplant, has passed away at the age of 57. When the Cleveland Clinic released the news, Connie was a very brave and energetic woman, and she inspired many people.
Data map: Connie Karp, the first patient in the United States to undergo a facial transplant.
On July 31, local time, the Cleveland Clinic stated on the social networking site, "We are sad about the loss of Connie Karp" and she "inspired everyone in the hospital." The exact cause of Connie's death has not been announced. She spent the last few days of her life in the hospital.
Frank Papey, director of the Institute of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement: "She (Connie) is the patient who has survived the longest facial transplant so far. Her strength is obvious. ."
According to reports, in 2004, Connie's husband shot her in the face and then committed suicide. Connie was admitted to this clinic and her husband was sentenced to seven years in prison after being rescued.
In 2008, doctors performed 22 hours of surgery on her, replacing 80% of Connie's face with the body tissue of another deceased patient. Before undergoing the transplant, she had undergone about 30 plastic surgeries. The operation did not help Connie restore her original appearance, but it helped her regain consciousness. A few years after the operation, Connie began to smell soap, food, and perfume.
In 2011, Connie said that after years of eating only soft food, she can eat anything, including a good steak.
After the operation, Connie often tells her story to others, fights against domestic violence, and educates and encourages others who will undergo transplantation.