Brave Rebekah Aversano is overcome with emotion when she finally meets the man who wears her brother’s face, as she cries: “That’s the face I grew up with,” upon meeting the recipient of her brother’s donated face transplant, Richard Norris.
The emotional meeting, which will air on 60 minutes this Sunday, is the first time Rebekah will see the results of the historic face transplant in the flesh, despite Richard keeping in constant contact with her family.
In 1997, Richard Norris at just 22 accidentally shot himself in the face, which left him with devastating physical injuries, as well leaving him with no teeth, nose, part of his tongue missing and no ability to smell.
The teaser clip shows Rebekah asking, “Do you mind if I touch it?” Richard responds with a whole hearted, “no, not at all.”
In what can only be described as a scientific breakthrough, the sister of the late Joshua Aversano is able to feel her beloved brother’s face again.
Richard Norris, now 39, was the victim of unrelenting bullying due to his disfigurement, and he became housebound and fell into a deep depression.
Richard Norris pre and post surgery
After over 30 painful reconstructive surgeries, Richard’s only option to live a somewhat normal life was to under-go a risky face transplant surgery.
When asked the impossible question, whether the Aversano family would donate Joshua’s face, they bravely agreed.
Richard underwent the ground-breaking 36 hour procedure with only a 50% chance of survival.
For the rest of his life he has to take anti-rejection drugs, he will not be able to smoke, get sunburnt or risk any type of facial injury.
The trade-off was worth it though, with Richard Norris now living a full life, which he attributes to the overwhelming courage and generosity of the Aversano family.
