New Jersey man receives world’s first face and double hand transplant

Doctors announce world's first successful face and double hand transplant Joe DiMeo holds a tennis racket as he works in a physical therapy session, Jan. 25, 2021 in New York, six months after an extremely rare double hand and face transplant. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (Mark Lennihan/AP)

By Lauren Silver, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

NEW YORK — A 22-year-old man from New Jersey became the world’s first recipient of both a face and a double hand transplant.

NYU Langone Health announced the successful surgery on Joe Dimeo, who was severely burned in a horrific car crash two years ago. Both Dimeo’s hands and his entire face were replaced by those of a single donor.

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In July 2018, Dimeo fell asleep behind the wheel of his car on Route 22 in New Jersey and lost control, CNN reported. The car hit the curb and rolled over before bursting into flames. While a witness managed to pull Dimeo from the car and save his life, was left without eyelids, ears, and most of his fingers, CNN reported.

The surgery, just announced this month, was actually performed in August and took approximately 23 hours. A team of more than 140 people, including nurses, surgeons, and other staff, were responsible for the transplants, the hospital said. The doctors waited to ensure none of the transplants were rejected before making the announcement, CNN reported.

Joe DiMeo recovers after first successful face and double hand transplant Joe DiMeo poses for a portrait, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 at NYU Langone Health in New York, six months after an extremely rare double hand and face transplant. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (Mark Lennihan/AP)

Simultaneous face and double hand transplants had never before been done successfully, and had only been tried twice before, CBS News reported. The first patient died, and the second had to have their hands removed days after the surgery, CBS News reported.

“Joe was an ideal candidate for this procedure; he’s extremely motivated and dedicated to recovering the independence he lost after his accident,” Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who led the surgery, said in a statement. “The rehabilitation demands on Joe are greater than any of our previous face transplant patients. With the added element of his hand therapy, Joe has performed up to five hours of rehabilitation daily—and he is constantly pushing for more. He’s completely focused on his goal of gaining greater independence and freedom,” said Rodriguez.

New Jersey man recovering after successful face and double hand transplant Joe DiMeo uses his new hands to grasp a knife and fork to cut some modeling plastic during an occupational therapy session, Jan. 25, 2021 in New York. DiMeo has been in intensive rehabilitation, devoting hours daily to physical, occupational and speech therapy. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (Mark Lennihan/AP)

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees all organ transplants in the United States, there has been an increase in organ donation over the past year, with 3,288 transplants performed over the last year.