(17 Sep 2010) HEADLINE: First face transplant patient, organ donor champion
CAPTION: The woman who underwent the nation's first face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic is now speaking out to encourage people to become organ donors. (Sept. 15)
After undergoing a life-changing surgery, this 47-year-old woman is encouraging people to become organ donors.
Connie Culp underwent the nation's first face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 2008.
:17
SOT: I LOOK GREAT B/C OF MY DOCTORS AND THE DONOR. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THAT DONOR, I MIGHT HAVE HAD TO WAIT 5 MORE YEARS.
Culp says there aren't enough donors like the anonymous person who made her surgeries possible.
A team of doctors replaced 80-percent of her face in a 22-hour transplant operation.
Doctors used bone, muscles, skin and blood vessels from an anonymous donor-- who had just died.
105
SOT: EVERY SURGERY YOU HAVE UPS AND DOWNS. I STILL HAVE HEADACHES ONCE IN A WHILE. BUT OVERALL I'M A LOT BETTER B/C I CAN EAT NOW. I CAN SMILE.
This undated photo shows what Culp looked like before her husband shot her in a failed murder-suicide.
The blast in 2004 shattered her nose, cheeks, the roof of her mouth and an eye.
33
SOT: MY WHOLE FAMILY HAD A HARD TIME COMING AROUND ME B/C OF THE WAY I LOOKED. NOW WE'RE CLOSER THAN EVER NOW. I HATE TO SAY THAT ABOUT MY FAMILY BUT ITS HARD
Before the face transplant, Culp endured 30 operations.
155
SOT: IT DON'T MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, SOMEBODY IS GONNA FIND FAULT WITH YOU. EITHER THE WAY YOU TALK OR SOMETHING. NOBODY'S PERFECT. I DON'T LET PEOPLE BOTHER ME
She says she's now doing well after undergoing her final surgery at the Clinic in July.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
