Patrick Hardison was just 27 when a house fire in his small Mississippi town changed everything. While searching for a woman trapped inside, the roof collapsed, leaving Hardison with devastating burns to his face. Doctors saved his life, but his injuries were so severe he barely recognized himself — and couldn’t even blink or see properly.

Hardison spent months in the hospital and years undergoing more than 70 surgeries. He lost most of his facial features, relied on family to eat and get to appointments, and struggled with depression, addiction, and the end of his marriage. Even simple trips outside meant being stared at. As one doctor put it, “living this way is not living.”

Fourteen years later, Hardison met Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who believed he could be a candidate for a face transplant — a risky, life-changing procedure with no guarantees. The odds of survival were just 50/50, but Hardison chose to go forward.

In 2015, a donor was found: 26-year-old artist and BMX cyclist David Rodebaugh, who died in a tragic biking accident. His family agreed to donate his face, giving Hardison a chance at a new life.

After a 26-hour surgery involving nearly 100 medical professionals, Hardison received the most extensive face transplant ever performed at the time. Months later, he could blink, see clearly, and live independently again — even shopping in public without drawing attention.

“Everything has changed,” Hardison said. He could drive, swim with his kids, and take his family to Disney World for the first time in years.