Some of you may have heard the courageous story of Connie Culp, a woman who was shot in the face by her husband in 2004 and was the recipient of the first face transplant in the United States in 2008.
Connie’s story is nothing short of inspiring; after losing her cheeks, upper lip, nose and most of her eye sight, she was left unable to make any kind of facial expression of emotion. Connie could not eat any solid food or and lost her sense of smell.
However a face transplant in 2008, by an undisclosed donor, allowed Connie to smile again. Although she is working on gaining strength in the muscles of her face, she now has a nose and has regained her sense of smell. She is able to eat solid foods and drink out of a cup, whereas before, she had to use a straw and ate only soft foods.
A mother and also a grandmother, Connie’s husband is now serving only a 7-year sentence for attempted murder. He is scheduled to be released next year.
More of Connie’s fascinating and heroic story can be seen below.