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Face Transplant Recipient At Cleveland Clinic Receives Second Chance After Suicide Attempt

"She exhibits the strength of a person of faith and the strength of a person with a strong human spirit because without either of those she wouldn't be here."

There have been just 40 face transplants in the world. Katie Stubblefield, the youngest patient in the United States, was number 39.

The journey began on March 25, 2014. A then 18-year-old Katie reached a low point and tried to end her life with a rifle. She survived the attempt and a month later arrived at Cleveland Clinic with hope of becoming the facility's third face transplant recipient.

It took two years before Katie was placed on the waiting list as a transplant candidate. During that time, she went through an intense evaluation process. Because Cleveland Clinic has successfully performed face transplants, dozens of hopeful patients request to be evaluated. But it’s very rare for one to be chosen.

(Photo: eft: Stubblefield family photo - Katie Stubblefield, 17, 8 months before attempting suicide. Right: Photo by Martin Schoeller - Katie, 22, one year and one month after her surgery)

“Really there's only a few that are not only from an anatomic standpoint but also a physical, physiologic and psychologic stand point and Katie met all of those,” said Dr. Brian Gastman, Cleveland Clinic plastic surgeon and lead surgeon on Katie’s case.

As a suicide survivor, how did Katie pass the psychological evaluation?

“She was so young when this happened, it was a rash singular decision she made, it did not look like a chronic depression,” Dr. Gastman said, adding that the psych evaluation was quite intense.

Katie’s parents, Alesia and Robb, left their home in Mississippi and everything they knew behind and came to Cleveland to be with their daughter. Initially a friend of the family allowed them to stay in a small apartment in Cleveland Heights, but on August 17th, the family moved into Ronald McDonald House across the street from the Clinic. It would be their home for the next four years and they would become the longest residents ever at the facility.

Credit: Cleveland Clinic

“We would never have been able to make it thru this journey without these guys,” Robb Stubblefield says about RMH. But that same sentence can encompass countless of people they’ve met along the way who’ve helped them through Katie’s journey.

It took fourteen months for a donor to be found that fit the criteria for Katie’s needs. In that time, she underwent several surgeries to prepare her face for transplant.

Finally, on May 4th, 2017, 11 Cleveland Clinic surgeons and specialists took 31 hours, but gave Katie a new face.

Credit: Cleveland Clinic

The face was from an organ donor named Adrea Schneider. She was 31 and died from a drug overdose.

Credit: Photo of Adrea Schneider provided

Adrea's grandmother agreed to allow the face to be donated to Katie. They have since met, face to face, but Katie does not resemble Adrea at all.

“Katie is here today because someone gave so unselfishly,” said Alesia Stubblefield, Katie’s mother.

The Stubblefield’s allowed National Geographic to chronicle their journey and Katie is on the cover of the September issue.

Credit: National Geographic

They hope to educate people on a variety of issues. The science of face transplant, the need for organ donors and Katie hopes to counsel kids about suicide someday. She plans to go to college and she’s studying braille in between rehabilitation appointments.

The surgery took her vision, which doctors hope may return naturally. She’ll also soon receive a prosthetic palate that will help with her speech which currently is difficult to understand. But Katie is young enough to benefit from emerging medical science.

Credit: Cleveland Clinic

“We know that eye transplantation maybe a thing of the future, tongue transplantation and using fewer immunosuppression drugs are a reality of our future,” Dr. Gastman said.

Face transplants are still considered experimental. That's why Katie's surgery was funded by the Department of Defense. Her age and injury gave researchers valuable information that may one day help soldiers on the battlefield.

She’s also a role model for survival.

“She exhibits the strength of a person of faith and the strength of a person with a strong human spirit because without either of those she wouldn't be here,” Robb said.

Credit: Photo provided by Stubblefield family

“We're so grateful because Katie is a fighter and she has much to give and I think she'll make a difference in a lot of people's lives,” Alesia said.

Katie still has surgeries ahead of her. But she's planning on going to college and eventually wants to be a motivational speaker. What would she say to her younger self?

"Whatever you're going through, trust me it is temporary. Things will get better."

The Stubblefield’s are hoping to get on their feet independently so they can soon leave RMH. They plan to remain in Cleveland. If you’re interested in helping them you can donate by clicking here.

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