Connie Culp, before and after photos of the United States first face transplant.
In 2004, Culp, a 46-year old woman from Ohio, was shot in the face by her husband. The malicious act severely disfigured her, she no longer had a nose, a palate or lower eyelids.
But in December 2008, a 22-hour surgery changed her life. Doctors replaced 80% of Culp's face with that of a dead woman's - and she is forever grateful.
She was released from the hospital in February and is now comfortable with going public.
She seemed shy as she told the crowd at a press conference, "Well, I guess I'm the one you came to see today."
She laughed but became serious as she spoke about being grateful to the family of the donor. She said, "I think it's more important that you focus on the donor family that made it so I could have this person's face."
[AFP]
