Beyond Grateful

By Robb and Alesia Stubblefield

Our daughter Katie suffered life-threatening injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when she was 18. The bullet penetrated her mouth and nasal cavity, exiting her skull between her eyebrows. 

After five weeks at a hospital in Memphis, we came to Cleveland, in hopes that one day Katie would be eligible for a face transplant at Cleveland Clinic. It was a long process, with many hurdles to clear along the way. 

When Katie was 21, she had a total face transplant.1 It involved 11 surgeons and a lot of specialists.2 

Over the past four years, there were many other operations. Yet we still have a ways to go. Katie tells us all the time, “I want to be able to walk into a room and be seen as just a girl wearing glasses — maybe smile, have nice teeth and talk and eat normally.” 

We understand that the quality of her life is an evolving process that will improve as she heals and regains her strength. We’re all beyond grateful to Dr. Gastman3 and the other doctors, nurses (we love the nurses!) and caregivers at Cleveland Clinic. 

Katie’s alive, and she’s still Katie. Her humor, sarcasm and personality are still there. 

 

Katie continues to undergo intensive therapy and rehabilitation aimed at equipping her to live a full life going forward.

Photo of Robb, Katie and Alesia Stubblefield

Robb, Katie and Alesia Stubblefield.| Photo: Stephen Travarca

Notes

  1. Katie was the youngest person in the U.S. to receive a face transplant — the first total face transplant at Cleveland Clinic. 
  2. The 31-hour surgery included transplantation of the scalp, forehead, eyelids, eye sockets, nose, upper cheeks, upper jaw and half of the lower jaw, teeth, facial nerves, facial muscles and skin. 
  3. Brian Gastman, MD, is a plastic surgeon and otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist).

At 18, Katie Stubblefield became the youngest patient in the U.S. to receive a face transplant.