Katie Stubblefield lost the majority of her face after suffering severe gunshot wounds in an attempted suicide at the age of 18. Now 22, she has shared her story and incredible photos of her transplant journey with National Geographic. She told the magazine in its September issue cover story The Story Of a Face, that the major operation has given her a second chance at life.
Katie attempted to take her own life in March 2014 in Mississippi, US, and doctors initially thought she would never survive her injuries. When her brother found her, he told the magazine: ‘Her face was gone.’ But after 22 operations and her final face transplant she has decided to spread her message to help others suffering with suicidal thoughts. ‘Life is precious and life is beautiful,’ she said. Katie’s new face was donated by the family of Adrea Schneider, a 31-year-old mother-of-one who who died as the result of a drug overdose.
In total, her organs have saved the lives of seven people. As part of the transplant Katie received a new forehead, eyelids, eye sockets, nose, mouth and lips, cheeks, upper jaw and teeth. She is the 40th person in the world to be given a face transplant in an operation that lasted 31 hours. It took 11 surgeons and made the use of virtual reality techniques and 3D printing.
