ROCHESTER, Minn. — At the Mayo Clinic's Transform conference Thursday, Andy Sandness spoke about the surgery which transformed him.
"When I first saw it, I'll never forget just looking in that mirror," he said. "Just wow. That's all I could say, was 'wow.'"
Sandness is the first person to receive a facial transplant at the Mayo Clinic. He underwent the surgery in 2017. The procedure took 56 hours, roughly 40 surgeons and nurses, and completely changed Sandness' physical appearance.
But speaking to a crowd at the Mayo Civic Center Thursday, he didn't just talk about the physical. Sandness needed the transplant because in 2006, at 21 years old and battling depression, he shot himself in the face.
"I built up a wall and I wouldn't let nobody in." he said during the session at the conference. "And finally it just got to the point where it just exploded and there was no controlling it."
Sandness has said he immediately regretted the decision to attempt suicide, telling first responders he didn't want to die.
He decided to share his story, about the surgery and about mental health, because he hopes it will help someone else who is struggling.
"If you are feeling these thoughts and feelings, you just need to get it out there and you need to talk to someone," he said. "If I could just help one person to just reach out to somebody ... that's it. That's all I ask."
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, there is help and it is effective.
The national suicide prevention lifeline offers 24-7, free, and confidential support.
The number is 1-800-273-TALK.