the first American woman to have a face transplant died

Connie Culp died at age 57 on Wednesday July 29, 2020. This woman victim of domestic violence was the first American to have received a face transplant. She died from an infection unrelated to her transplant, Andrea Pacetti, spokesperson for the Cleveland Clinic, told CNN.

In 2004, Connie Culp lost a large part of her face when her husband shot her, severely injuring and disfiguring her, before turning the gun on him. This mother of two was partially blind, unable to smell and speak after the assault. To breathe, she had a surgical opening in her neck. Four years later, in December 2008, the American underwent surgery to receive a face transplant. Thanks to this operation, which doctors describe as medical and not cosmetic, she was able to find parts of her face. In particular, this allowed him to be able to start eating solid food again and to regain his sense of smell.

"Connie was an incredibly courageous and vibrant woman, and an inspiration to many"said Dr Frank Papay, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute, who was part of the team that operated on her. In a statement, he recalls how amazing this woman was: "Her strength was evident in the fact that she was the longest-lived face transplant recipient. She was a great pioneer and her decision to undergo an intimidating operation is a gift to all mankind."

After being transplanted, Connie Culp became a strong advocate for organ donation, and she lectured to talk about her experience. In France, the very first patient to receive such a transplant was Isabelle Dinoire, who had been disfigured by her dog. She died in 2016 from an illness unrelated to her transplant.

Why is it important to recognize the different domestic violence?

Video by Clara Poudevigne

Also read: After Jacqueline Sauvage, what progress for victims of domestic violence?

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