A New Jersey man who received a face transplant after sustaining severe burns in a car accident shared his engagement photos this week amid an overwhelming outpouring of support.
Joe DiMeo (26) and his fiancée Jessica Perez (32) engagement photo preview Posted on their joint Facebook account, the snap quickly garnered more than 2,000 likes and hundreds of loving comments.
“A strong, amazing, lovely couple who will inspire others and change the world for the better! You're already doing it! One commenter said: .
“Beautiful!!! You guys are so inspiring!!” said another.
This happy milestone was another victory for DiMeo. DiMeo fell asleep at the wheel in July 2018 and suffered burns to 80 percent of his body when his car veered off the road and burst into flames.
“I was in the hospital for four months, about half of which I was in a coma,” he said. newsweek A grueling recovery process began early this year. “Then I took some time to get back on my feet a little faster and by the fourth month I was in rehab.”
About two years later, DiMeo first person New York University Langone said it took a 23-hour surgery to successfully perform the face and hand transplants.
DiMeo told Newsweek that he now uses his hands about 45 percent more and uses his face to blink, raise his eyebrows, and move his lips (something most people take for granted). He explained that he was getting better at being present.
DiMeo was recovering from the transplant when he contacted Perez. Perez saw his story on the news and reached out to him on Instagram.
The two “hit it off right away,” Perez told the outlet, and soon began a long-distance relationship.
“I was just drawn to his demeanor in the interview. He's such a hard-working guy that he was ready to get back to work despite his disfigurement. I was most intrigued by his attitude. “I think it was his ambition,” she recalls.
“I always hoped to meet someone like Joe and always imagined it was possible,” she said. “Of course, I didn't expect to be the same as the person who received the transplant, but it doesn't matter because I don't care. I always wanted to be able to find someone like him.”
The couple eventually lived together in DiMeo's hometown of New Jersey, and Perez remained by DiMeo's side throughout her tumultuous post-transplant life, including a six-week stay in the hospital over the summer.
Together they share DiMeo's story and advocate for organ donation through social media.
I often hear from people who say DiMeo's journey has inspired them, including one woman who said he was the reason she didn't commit suicide, DiMeo told Newsweek. told.
“I just wanted to help Joe get his story out there, and it really helps a lot of people,” Perez said.
“Awareness about organ donation is so important. I think a lot of people don't have enough education about it, so it was fun educating others and raising awareness about Joe's transplant.
“I hope that in the future, people will know Joe's story and not be afraid to donate their loved one's body parts for him.”
The couple has also struggled with online haters, including those who likened DiMeo's appearance to a horror movie villain and questioned Perez's motives for being with him.
“People call me a gold digger, say I have a fetish, that I'm cheating on him, that I'm taking advantage of him, but that's far from the truth. We love each other, but… They can't handle it. I just let them continue because they're jealous,” she shrugged.
DiMeo, a horror movie buff, said he manages to laugh when people compare him to Michael Myers from “Halloween” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
He also understands why his appearance sometimes attracts attention in public.
“Negativity like that doesn't bother me, it's just words and it's only online. It doesn't really affect me in person, but when I see myself, I stare. “I understand that people are curious,” he told Newsweek.
DiMeo and Perez got engaged in September, and Perez Share videos of special moments on Instagram.
According to the wedding website, the couple plans to elope in Honolulu on December 5th.
Looking forward, DiMeo and Perez will continue working together to renovate their new home and grow their brand 80 Percent Gone, which sells products featuring DiMeo's designs.
“We're a normal couple,” Perez told Newsweek.
“We just bought a house and we're making plans together. We're just trying to spread Joe's story and raise awareness.”
