Latest news with #burnsurvivor
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man, 26, Who Received Face of 47-Year-Old Donor, Reveals What He Heard During His 3-Month Coma (Exclusive)
In 2018, Joe DiMeo got in a car crash that left his body 80 percent burned. Two years later, he received a historic face and double hand transplant at age 22. His donor was 47 years old Immediately after the accident, Joe was in a three-month coma. In a video for PEOPLE's new 'I Survived' series, he recalls feeling the pain of early burn treatment and having bad dreams while unconscious After his transplant in 2020, Joe met his now-wife, Jessica. She first learned about Joe before they met, when she was studying to become a nurseIn 2018, Joe DiMeo was involved in a car accident that burned 80 percent of his body, changing the trajectory of his life in an instant. However, his resulting medical journey spanned years, beginning with the three months he spent in a coma. Joe, now 26, explains all that led to his historic face and double hand transplant in 2020 in PEOPLE's "I Survived" YouTube series. Though he was unconscious in the immediate aftermath of the crash, the New Jersey resident does remember being able to hear people around him in the hospital. He can also recall the "bad dreams" that accompanied the pain of his earliest burn treatment. "When they take you into the tank room — where they wash you off, take off all the bandages — that's not fun. You can feel the pain. So you're dreaming about pain," he says in the newly released video. 'They're not meaning to torture you, they're just taking off the bandages, but it still hurts.' He was 18 years old at the time of the accident, which occurred early in the morning, just after Joe worked a night shift at his job. He fell asleep at the wheel of his Dodge Challenger and woke up months later in a burn unit. People often ask Joe if he experienced an encounter with the afterlife, and he can describe a memory that resembles the concept. "The only thing I experienced is me walking my dog. He passed away in 2012, 2013," he tells PEOPLE. "I was like, 'Oh, this is it. I'm assuming this is the afterlife, just me walking my dog down an endless hill.'' After a couple more weeks in the burn unit, he moved to a burn rehab facility. Then he returned to his parents' home, where he longed for a sense of independence. Speaking to PEOPLE in February 2025, he remembers feeling like a "20-year-old baby again." "My mom did my laundry, cooked, cleaned, all that stuff, and I just laid on the couch with my dog," said Joe. "That just wasn't for me." In 2019, he met NYU Langone's Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, who deemed Joe a good candidate for a face and double hand transplant. They knew it was a risky operation from the start; it was unsuccessfully attempted on two previous patients. "The first one passed away on the table, and the second one the hands failed," Joe explains in PEOPLE's "I Survived" segment. "But going into any surgery, you can die, so that didn't bother me at all." According to a press release issued by NYU Langone, more than 140 medical personnel were involved in the surgery, which took 23 hours to complete. Both his hands and face came from a 47-year-old donor. "It's not a perfect surgery, and I was making it a perfect surgery in the beginning. But then I realized, you know what, let me be real," Joe says, reflecting on his recovery. Not long after his surgery, Joe met a woman who would later become his wife. Jessica DiMeo heard about him from one of her professors in nursing school, and she watched a documentary made about his transplant. "I remember looking at the picture of him, before and after, and thinking, 'Dang, that sucks. He was a handsome guy.' But that's all I thought," she tells PEOPLE. They connected on Instagram in 2021, when Joe sent Jessica an Instagram message. At first they were involved in a long-distance relationship, but they eventually found themselves in the same place and moved into a home in New Jersey together. The couple — who eloped in Hawaii in December 2024 — regularly deal with judgment from others, especially as they've shared their story with millions of viewers on TikTok and Instagram. But Joe leads with an especially positive outlook, knowing that the worst part of his life led to the best. "It sucks I got into the accident. I lost 80 percent of my skin, and I have someone else's face and hands on me," he tells PEOPLE in his video interview. "But then I also found my life partner, and if I wouldn't have had the accident, I'd probably still be a cocky 26-year-old. I would prefer not to be burned, but I like my life now, just because I have Jessica around." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man, 26, Who Received Face of 47-Year-Old Donor, Reveals What He Heard During His 3-Month Coma (Exclusive)
In 2018, Joe DiMeo got in a car crash that left his body 80 percent burned. Two years later, he received a historic face and double hand transplant at age 22. His donor was 47 years old Immediately after the accident, Joe was in a three-month coma. In a video for PEOPLE's new 'I Survived' series, he recalls feeling the pain of early burn treatment and having bad dreams while unconscious After his transplant in 2020, Joe met his now-wife, Jessica. She first learned about Joe before they met, when she was studying to become a nurseIn 2018, Joe DiMeo was involved in a car accident that burned 80 percent of his body, changing the trajectory of his life in an instant. However, his resulting medical journey spanned years, beginning with the three months he spent in a coma. Joe, now 26, explains all that led to his historic face and double hand transplant in 2020 in PEOPLE's "I Survived" YouTube series. Though he was unconscious in the immediate aftermath of the crash, the New Jersey resident does remember being able to hear people around him in the hospital. He can also recall the "bad dreams" that accompanied the pain of his earliest burn treatment. "When they take you into the tank room — where they wash you off, take off all the bandages — that's not fun. You can feel the pain. So you're dreaming about pain," he says in the newly released video. 'They're not meaning to torture you, they're just taking off the bandages, but it still hurts.' He was 18 years old at the time of the accident, which occurred early in the morning, just after Joe worked a night shift at his job. He fell asleep at the wheel of his Dodge Challenger and woke up months later in a burn unit. People often ask Joe if he experienced an encounter with the afterlife, and he can describe a memory that resembles the concept. "The only thing I experienced is me walking my dog. He passed away in 2012, 2013," he tells PEOPLE. "I was like, 'Oh, this is it. I'm assuming this is the afterlife, just me walking my dog down an endless hill.'' After a couple more weeks in the burn unit, he moved to a burn rehab facility. Then he returned to his parents' home, where he longed for a sense of independence. Speaking to PEOPLE in February 2025, he remembers feeling like a "20-year-old baby again." "My mom did my laundry, cooked, cleaned, all that stuff, and I just laid on the couch with my dog," said Joe. "That just wasn't for me." In 2019, he met NYU Langone's Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, who deemed Joe a good candidate for a face and double hand transplant. They knew it was a risky operation from the start; it was unsuccessfully attempted on two previous patients. "The first one passed away on the table, and the second one the hands failed," Joe explains in PEOPLE's "I Survived" segment. "But going into any surgery, you can die, so that didn't bother me at all." According to a press release issued by NYU Langone, more than 140 medical personnel were involved in the surgery, which took 23 hours to complete. Both his hands and face came from a 47-year-old donor. "It's not a perfect surgery, and I was making it a perfect surgery in the beginning. But then I realized, you know what, let me be real," Joe says, reflecting on his recovery. Not long after his surgery, Joe met a woman who would later become his wife. Jessica DiMeo heard about him from one of her professors in nursing school, and she watched a documentary made about his transplant. "I remember looking at the picture of him, before and after, and thinking, 'Dang, that sucks. He was a handsome guy.' But that's all I thought," she tells PEOPLE. They connected on Instagram in 2021, when Joe sent Jessica an Instagram message. At first they were involved in a long-distance relationship, but they eventually found themselves in the same place and moved into a home in New Jersey together. The couple — who eloped in Hawaii in December 2024 — regularly deal with judgment from others, especially as they've shared their story with millions of viewers on TikTok and Instagram. But Joe leads with an especially positive outlook, knowing that the worst part of his life led to the best. "It sucks I got into the accident. I lost 80 percent of my skin, and I have someone else's face and hands on me," he tells PEOPLE in his video interview. "But then I also found my life partner, and if I wouldn't have had the accident, I'd probably still be a cocky 26-year-old. I would prefer not to be burned, but I like my life now, just because I have Jessica around." Read the original article on People
CBS News
16-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Pittsburgh pediatric burn patients head to special summer camp
A dozen kids are heading to a special summer camp that caters to some of the Pittsburgh area's youngest burn patients. One of those kids is high schooler Meira Loring, who said she remembers getting her burn scars at 5 years old. "I decided that I was going to light a candle, and the match got too close to my hand, and it fell on my dress. So, 41% of my body got burned that day," Loring said. She is one of the over 200 pediatric burn patients that doctors see each year at UPMC Mercy. Now she's one of twelve children with bags packed going to Camp Susquehanna. All the kids going to the camp have been at UPMC Mercy Hospital as burn patients too. "Other people know what you're going through, which makes it really easy to just feel connection," said Loring. It's her eighth time going to this pediatric burn survivor camp now. This four-day camp cultivates connection between children who bear burn scars. "It's great emotional therapy, but it's also great physical therapy for them," said Dr. Jenny Ziembicki, the medical director of UPMC Mercy's Burn Center. This camp is a safe and free sleepaway camp with three clinicians from UPMC. That includes a nurse, a tech and a child life specialist. "A lot of (the children at camp) are still taking medication. They have burn garments, therapy, stretching, that type of thing that they are still going to do while they're up there," said Dr. Ziembicki. Campers range from 7 to 17 years old, and every one of them bounced with excitement ahead of getting on the bus to camp. Parents said they know what this moment means to their kids. "You won't regret it. It's hard letting them go, especially that first year, but it's worth it," said Tiffany Taylor, parent to 11-year-old burn survivor Miles. He's gone to this camp three times now. While the children are at Camp Susquehanna, they enjoy rock climbing, cooking, swimming and engaging in deep conversations. "Do you see a difference when he comes back?" KDKA-TV's Megan Shinn asked. "Oh yeah. He — more confidence," Taylor said. With a hug and kiss goodbye, the children run to be first on the bus for a life-changing camp that helps connect the spirits of all pediatric burn survivors.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Who is Sophie Lee? Former fire breather and dancer joining the Love Island 2025 villa
SOPHIE Lee is a former fire-performer who will be joining the cast of Love Island 2025. The star, who will be 29 when she enters the villa, hopes to use her time in the villa to spread awareness about body positivity. 5 5 A shocking incident Sophie's life was changed when she was just 22, after a fire-breathing accident left her with significant burns. The incident took place whilst she was performing in Chicago, when an air-conditioner blew the flames she was expelling back towards her. The star, from Manchester, has opened up to The Sun about the terrifying incident. She said: 'The air-con was too strong so when I blew the fire out it blew back to me. It set me on fire. I just remember being in so much pain, I blacked out for a little bit. It's crazy. 'It happened in front of everyone and I had to get on with it as professionally and quickly as I could. As soon as I got into the ambulance, I was in bits." She added: That was a scary, scary time. I couldn't breathe by myself, I couldn't eat, I couldn't really see, it was scary. I was pretty out of it but on day two I looked in the mirror and just cried.' Sophie spent a month in an intensive care clinic in America, before battling with a tumour which began growing on the side of her face. Becoming an activist importance of body positivity. She said: 'Life since the accident is definitely something I didn't expect because I just see myself as someone who went through something and thought my story could help others. 'My aim was never to get awards or receive that type of attention. With the platform I have now, I feel like I have not only a responsibility to others but a responsibility to myself to be a better person everyday and to always be evolving. Maya Jama looks incredible as she dives in the sea in thong bikini 'If people were to take a message from my story I'd say that beauty is always skin deep and your life is perfect just as it is. 'You just need to be yourself and accepting of life's roller coaster so love your perfectly imperfect life.' She has worked extensively with Katie Piper's charity and even wrote a hit book entitled In My Skin. Joining Love Island Sophie will be joining the cast of Love Island which kicks off on June 9, 2025. According to a source, the star is planning to use the show to advocate for body positivity. The source said: 'Sophie is a gorgeous girl and a powerhouse of a woman who has overcome everything life has thrown at her. 'Just like Tasha Ghouri's amazing time in the villa where she raised awareness for the hearing impaired, Love Island bosses are thrilled to give Sophie the same platform to discuss her accident and how she's become comfortable in her skin since. 'Love Island has always tried to be about more than just looks and Sophie is a classic example of an Islander with real substance.' ITV has already announced that Maya Jama's show AfterSun will be returning, as well as the show's iconic narrator Iain Stirling. Two other contestants, named Aaron Buckett and Lucy Quinn, have also been confirmed to be joining the cast. ITV has also announced that there will be an exciting Love Island spin-off, where former Love Island couples will rewatch the show in a Gogglebox-style format. Stars including Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey, as well as Millie Court and Liam Reardon will be returning for the special episode. Fan-favourites Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan, alongside Indiyah Polack and her boyfriend Dami Hope, will also be returning for the special. 5 5
ABC News
20-05-2025
- ABC News
Reports of domestic violence burn injury cases likely 'tip of the iceberg', researcher says
Roia Atmar will never forget that night — her scars are a quiet reminder. WARNING: This story contains images that are graphic. In 1997, as a 21-year-old, her then-husband doused her in turpentine and set her alight while she held their baby. The mother-of-four suffered second and third-degree burns across 35 per cent of her body. "Burns are something permanent. I mean, this happened to me 30 years ago, and now, even today, I'm still going through surgeries." For Ms Atmar, the abuse began after she moved to Australia as a child bride and had her first baby. If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0 Isolated from her Afghan family in Pakistan, she said she did not fully comprehend her husband's "controlling" behaviour. "He didn't let me go to school. He did not let me have any friends," Ms Atmar said. "He did not let me go anywhere or speak to anybody unless he was there, present with me. Her husband's constant surveillance made it nearly impossible for Ms Atmar to seek help, even after being set alight. At the burns unit, he rarely left her side. Ms Atmar said her husband spoke on her behalf, and told the doctors that her scarf had "caught on fire". "He told me that even if I tell anybody the truth, nobody was going to believe me, because he had rinsed the turpentine bottle clean," she said. "But my biggest fear during that time was that he would somehow take my kids away from me." Ms Atmar's former husband was later convicted of a charge of unlawful grievous bodily harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable over the incident and sentenced to 12 years' jail. Injuries like Ms Atmar's have now been the subject of a national study led by Monash University. It found suspected violence accounted for 2.5 per cent of the 6,262 cases of women admitted to eight Australian burn centres between 2009 and 2022. Lead researcher Yvonne Singer, who analysed the clinical details of women aged 18 years and older in the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand (BRANZ), said that number was likely to be an underestimation because women often do not report the violence. "The reasons why they don't disclose it are fear of retaliation, fear of consequences to family, finances or to housing and children, shame, and also negative responses from clinicians," she said. "Or, they might not know what services and what rights they might have." Reports of women being set on fire have made headlines in recent years. Rowan Baxter murdered Brisbane mum Hannah Clarke and their three children in 2020, and earlier this year cases of fire in domestic violence-related incidents made the news in Brisbane and Adelaide. Ms Singer said the Clarke family's tragedy was "one of the impetuses" behind the research. Of the cases linked to suspected violence in Ms Singer's study, almost half involved perpetrators who were current or former intimate partners. Her report also found women with burns from suspected violence were more socio-economically disadvantaged, lived in remote areas and had more mental health and substance issues than women with accidental burns. "A greater proportion of them died, which most likely reflects the greater severity of injury they had," Ms Singer said. University of Melbourne law professor Heather Douglas has studied the use of fire in domestic violence. Dr Douglas said while there was limited data available on the issue, she suspected these incidents were "reasonably common". "Things like lighters and accelerants like petrol — they're things we find around the house, or they're very easy to get access to," Dr Douglas said. Dr Douglas, who was a co-author of the BRANZ research, said fire was "a lot easier to claim as an accident" compared to other forms of domestic violence, particularly when perpetrators accompany victims to hospitals. "It's the abusive partner that actually gives the story of what happened behind the injury. And that could be claimed as an accident in that context," she said. Help arrived for Ms Atmar after a social worker told her husband to leave the hospital room. "I had been living in Australia for nearly six years, and that was the first time that somebody had asked me if I was OK and if I needed help," Ms Atmar said. Ms Atmar believes cultural and religious ignorance may have stopped others from reaching out sooner. "It was the way that I appeared to them. Like, a Muslim woman coming from a different country, because I used to wear the long dresses and the scarf, and my English wasn't really well," she said. "Everybody was too scared to ask the question. "And I think maybe it was out of fear that they didn't want to offend my culture, they didn't want to offend my religion, they didn't want to come across as racist. "But if somebody had asked me about what was happening to me and explained there was help available, me and my children probably wouldn't have had to go through what we went through." Dr Douglas said women from culturally diverse backgrounds often faced additional barriers to getting help, such as language barriers, insecure visa concerns and financial dependence on their abuser. "In some cases, [they] may not be aware of the legal rights or may feel ashamed about speaking up," Dr Douglas said. Ms Singer said burn centres should "build capacity" to recognise and respond to domestic violence in "culturally appropriate and trauma informed ways". "Part of that is also developing screening tools, and data like this study can help us build evidence about the types of characteristics of [women at risk]," she said. All Australian public hospitals stated they have processes in place to screen and respond to domestic violence patients. But the health departments in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania responded that their burns clinicians are trained to identify non-accidental burns. "All burns clinicians are trained in how to identify patterns of burn, and any other factors such as delayed presentation and changes to description of the circumstances as to how the injury was sustained," a Tasmanian health department spokesperson said. The South Australian health department said it was "mandatory" for staff to respond to patients they suspected were experiencing violence, while a Victorian health spokesperson said "evidence-based risk factors and screening tools" were used to assess risk. In the Northern Territory, a spokesperson said staff who care for patients with burns provide "trauma informed care", while a New South Wales spokesperson said its staff were trained to "identify possible indicators" of family and domestic violence and "take action to intervene early." To Ms Atmar, identifying domestic violence is everyone's responsibility. She said cultural or religious differences should not stop anyone from reaching out. Mr Atmar wants victims of family and domestic violence to know "there is light at the end of the tunnel". "Me and my children — we went through what we went through, and I am sitting here today talking about our experience because of the help and the support we got," she said. "And you can be in the same place."
