Cameron Underwood’s Face Transplant Journey

NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Health
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Published 2018-11-29
Cameron Underwood, a 26 year-old man from Yuba City, California, travels across the country to enroll in NYU Langone Health’s preeminent Face Transplant Program after suffering a severe facial injury. In January 2018, Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, DDS, chair of the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, and the Helen L. Kimmel Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, performed the most technologically-advanced face transplant, replacing much of Cameron’s upper, mid, and lower face and jaws -- ultimately allowing Cameron an extraordinary second chance at life. Cameron’s story culminates with meeting his donor’s family in an emotional reunion, which takes place less than a year after the life-changing transplant was performed.

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All Comments (21)
  • @jennawholoveseric
    The mother of the donor has to be one of the most courageous women I’ve ever seen. Wow. She had just lost her son when she embraced Cam and his mom and wholeheartedly wished them well.
  • @Raddrickheffley
    ‘Thank you for letting my son live on’ that was so Fucking beautiful I can’t even comprehend what a great soul she is.
  • @bdaly03
    Holy cow... the mother that just lost her son, the first things she said to Cameron's mom was "Thank God for you, I'm so happy for you, thank you for letting my son live on". I cannot imagine even for a millisecond what anyone in this situation feels like, but her courage, faith, and love is pouring out of herself freely and I pray that our Loving Father will restore her mind, body and spirit so she can enjoy life again.
  • @ScottishMatters
    The donor's mother humbles me. What a generous, selfless spirit.
  • @james87367
    That woman who just lost her son and greeted them like they were long lost family was absolutely beautiful. What a stunning person.
  • @beautifulspirit2973
    Best transplant ever. He looks amazing for a guy that’s gone through so much. The surgeons are angels
  • @mandylou-who2238
    “Thank you for letting my son live on!!!” Wow... Goosebump moment.
  • @briggyb
    "Thank you. Thank you for letting my son live on." 3:05 Oh to have a heart like that in such a devastating time.
  • @itsmelive
    "Thank you for letting my son live on." Wow. That moment got me. So many different ways the meeting could have gone and this mother chose the most beautiful outlook.
  • @samnicole9803
    He looks incredibly similar to the way he previously did. With the sunglasses on, you can’t even tell. With years of speech therapy it will be almost unknown.
  • @nayelip2388
    I'm speechless. That plastic surgeon did an incredible job.
  • @radred1882
    Honestly, I'd like to see how is Cameron now a days three years after his surgery. How his routine is, how much he was able to control his facial expressions, how much his scars have disappeared or even if him and his family have been keeping contact with the donor's mother and what's her views on the whole thing.
  • @melissagarduno3001
    He looks really good. They did an amazing job. The donor's mother had such incredible strength and love. What a beautiful story. I wish these families well.
  • @PachinhoG2024
    Imagine how good face transplant is going to look in the future
  • @ZenataUSA
    And he looks so good too! The donor's mother is an absolutely remarkable person. It shook me to my core when she came to meet Cameron before the surgery. I haven't gone from zero to bawling faster in my life.
  • @sierra7202
    Incredible story. The woman who lost her son is amazing. She donated her son's face to a stranger and she was happy to. It was her way of giving another person a second chance at life and to let her child's face live on. God bless her for giving up her son's face to save another mother's child's face. It's incredible how God works to make things happen.
  • @TH-tl6sy
    Kind of a mind bender. Young man tries to kill himself only to live with the scars. Young man dies that, undoubtedly wanted to live, and gives maimed young man a second chance at life.