Katie Stubblefield’s life changed for good when she was 18. She hurt her face badly when she shot herself with a gun. After three years, she became the youngest person in U.S. history to get a face transplant.
Eleven doctors from the Cleveland Clinic did the 31-hour surgery that replaced all of her face tissue. Katie has had 17 surgeries, learnt Braille, and gone to speech therapy to get better.
Katie’s drive shines through even though she is blind and faces constant problems. She wants to go to college and become a counsellor or teacher. Robb and Alesia, her parents, are always there for her.
Katie’s medical team got help from cutting edge technology. Holograms and 3D images made sure that the surgery was planned perfectly.
Katie’s progress is a sign of both physical growth and personal success. With the love of her family, she’s taking advantage of her second chance and starting over with hope.
