A New Jersey man who got a face transplant after suffering severe burns in a car crash shared his engagement photos this week, drawing an outpouring of support.
Joe DiMeo, 26, and his fiancee Jessica Perez, 32, shared a Preview of their engagement photos on their joint Facebook account, where the snaps instantly received over 2,000 likes and hundreds of loving comments.
“A strong, amazing, loving couple who inspire others and will change the world for the better! You’re already doing it!” one commenter said.
“Beautiful!!! You all are so inspiring!! said another.
This joyous milestone marked another victory for DiMeo, who suffered burns on 80% of his body after falling asleep while driving in July 2018, causing his car to go off the road and burst into flames. I got surrounded.
“I was in the hospital for four months and I was in a coma for about half of those months,” he said. newsweek The grueling recovery process began earlier this year. “Then I spent some time quickly getting back on my feet, and by the fourth month I went into rehab.”
About two years later, DiMeo became first person According to NYU Langone, it took a 23-hour surgery to achieve a successful face and double hand transplant.
DiMeo told Newsweek that he uses about 45% of his hands and is getting better at using his face, blinking, raising eyebrows and moving lips — something most people take for granted.
While recovering from the transplant, DiMeo connected with Perez, who saw her story in the news and reached out on Instagram.
The pair “hit it off immediately,” Perez told the outlet, and quickly embarked on a long-distance relationship.
“I was attracted to the way he presented himself in interviews,” he said. He is a very hard-working person, so despite being disfigured, he was ready to go back to work. I think his ambition was what attracted me most,” he recalled.
She said, “I always hoped that I would find someone like Joe, and I always imagined that it was possible.” “Obviously, I didn’t expect this to happen to someone who had a transplant, but it’s OK because it doesn’t bother me. I always wished it was possible to find someone like him.”
The couple eventually moved in together in DiMeo’s native New Jersey, and Perez stayed with him through the ups and downs of life after the transplant – including being hospitalized for six weeks over the summer.
Together, they share DiMeo’s story and advocate for organ donation on social media.
They often hear from people who say DiMeo’s journey inspired them — including a woman who told him why she didn’t take her own life, DiMeo told Newsweek.
“I just wanted to help Joe get his story out and it really helps a lot of people,” Perez said.
“Awareness for organ donation is extremely important. I think a lot of people aren’t educated enough about it, so it’s been fun to educate others and bring awareness to Joe’s transplant.
“Hopefully, in the future, people will know Joe’s story and won’t be afraid to donate a loved one’s body organ because of him.”
also added Dealing with online haters – These include those who compare DeMeo’s appearance to horror movie villains and question Perez’s intentions in being with her.
“People call me a gold digger, they say I have an eccentricity, that I’m cheating on her, or that I’m using her, and that’s so far from the truth. We love each other, but they can’t handle it. I just let them go because they’re jealous,” she shrugged.
DeMeo – a horror movie lover – said he laughs when people compare him to Michael Myers in “Halloween” or “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
He also understands why his looks sometimes make people stare.
“That negative thing doesn’t bother me, it’s just words, and it’s only online. It doesn’t really affect me personally, but I would stare if I saw it myself. I think people are curious,” he told Newsweek.
DeMeo and Perez got engaged in September, with Perez I am sharing the video of the special moment on Instagram.,
According to their wedding website, they are planning to elope on December 5 in Honolulu.
Looking ahead, DiMeo and Perez will continue to renovate their new home together and develop their brand, 80 Cent Gone, which sells DiMeo-designed merchandise.
“We’re a normal couple,” Perez told Newsweek.
“We just bought a house and we’re working on it together. We’re just trying to spread Joe’s story and raise awareness.
(TagstoTranslate)US News(T)Car Accidents(T)Engagements(T)Face Transplants(T)New Jersey(T)Organ Donation
