>> THANK YOU.
>>> AFTER FALLING ASLEEP AT THE
WHEEL, A YOUNG MAN FROM NEW
JERSEY SUFFERED HORRIFIC BURNS
AFTER A FIERY CRASH.
NOW THANKS TO A MEDICAL FIRST,
HE’S NOT ONLY BEEN GIVEN A NEW
FACE AND HANDS, HE’S BEEN GIVEN
HIS LIFE BACK.
JOE DiMEO IS READY TO FACE THE
WORLD AGAIN.
IN 2018 A FIERY CAR CRASH LEFT
THE 22-YEAR-OLD FROM CHARACTER,
NEW JERSEY, WITH THIRD DEGREE
BURNS COVERING 80% OF HIS BODY.
HE WAS LEFT WITH NO LIPS OR
EYELIDS.
HIS FINGERTIPS HAD TO BE
AMPUTATED.
AFTER THREE MONTHS IN A
MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA, HE
SURVIVED.
>> AFTER MONTHS OF SEARCHING FOR
THE PERFECT DONOR, THIS PAST
AUGUST A TEAM AT NWC LANGONE
PERFORMED THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL
FACE AND DOUBLE HAND TRANSPLANT.
HIS SURGERY TOOK 23 HOURS.
THE PROCEDURE SO DIFFICULT, HIS
DOCTORS DID 12 REHEARSALS.
BUT THE ONE THING THEY KNEW ALL
ALONG, JOE WAS THE IDEAL
PATIENT.
>> HE HAD THAT ONE SPECIAL
ELEMENT WHICH IS GOING TO BE
REQUIRED FOR THIS OPERATION,
WHICH WAS A HIGH LEVEL OF
MOTIVATION AND HE HAD A
TREMENDOUS SENSE OF HOPE.
>> Reporter: SO FAR HE’S SHOWN
NO SIGNS OF REJECTING HIS HANDS
OR FACE AND NOW THAT HE’S ABLE
TO PLAY WITH HIS DOG, FEED
HIMSELF AND EVEN LIFT WEIGHTS,
HE DECIDED IT’S TIME TO GO
PUBLIC.
>> IT’S A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.
THERE’S NO EXCUSE TO NOT BE
MOTIVATED.
>> Reporter: DURING HIS DARKEST
TIMES HE NEVER DREAMED HE WOULD
BE SO FULL OF LIFE AND NOW HE
WANTS TO SEND A MESSAGE TO
OTHERS WHO MAY BE LOSING HELP.
>> THERE’S ALWAYS LIGHT AT THE
END OF THE TUNNEL TO NEVER GIVE
UP.
>> THE SURGERY HAS ONLY BEEN
ATTEMPTED TWICE BEFORE, BOTH
UNSUCCESSFULLY, INCLUDING A
WOMAN FROM CONNECTICUT WHOSE
FACE AND HANDS WERE MAULED BY A
CHIMPANZEE.
AFTER HER TRANSPLANT SHE HAD AN
INFECTION.
IT DID NOT WORK OUT.
HERE WE ARE WITH JOE AND DOCTORS