ROCHESTER, Minn. — Ten years and nearly 60 surgeries after a now-30-year-old man attempted to take his own life, he's taking his life back... thanks to world-class healthcare providers at Rochester's Mayo Clinic.
Derek Pfaff, a Michigan man whose face was severely damaged by a gunshot wound in 2014, recently underwent a face transplant procedure he said "transformed" his life.
"I lived for a reason. I want to help others," Pfaff said in a statement released by Mayo Clinic. "I am so grateful to my donor, his family and my care team at Mayo Clinic for giving me this second chance."
Before coming to Mayo, the clinic's said Pfaff was unable to eat solid food, speak casually or even wear glasses as a result of his injuries. Now, Mayo said Pfaff will be able to do all of those things and more, including advocating for suicide prevention and awareness.
"This surgery has transformed my life. I feel so much more confident. I am hoping to one day meet someone, settle down and have a family," Pfaff said. "I'm also going to keep sharing my story with others to help as many people as I can."
The team behind Pfaff's transformational surgery said the procedure took around 50 hours and was performed by at least 80 healthcare team members, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians, assistants and others.
Dr. Samir Mardini, a facial reconstructive and facial reanimation surgeon and surgical director of Mayo's reconstructive transplant program, led the surgical team. He estimated about 85% of Pfaff's face was reconstructed and replaced with donor tissue.
"This successful transplant would not have been possible without the donor and his family's generous gift and the care team's collaboration and dedication," Mardini said, adding, "Most organ transplants are lifesaving. With facial transplantation, it's a life-giving operation. You can live without it, but you are missing out on life."
For more information about Pfaff's facial reconstructive journey, the Mayo Clinic and its transplant program, visit the clinic's website.
If you or someone you know is facing a mental health crisis, there is help available from the following resources:
Crisis Text Line – text “MN” to 741741 (standard data and text rates apply)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, Talk to Someone Now
Throughout Minnesota call **CRISIS (**274747)
The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386
