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Aaron James, 46, underwent 21 hours of surgery at NYU Langone Health which saw the entire left eye and portion of face transplanted from a single donor
(NYU Langone Health)
In a groundbreaking procedure at NYU Langone Health, surgeons successfully completed a full-eye transplant on a living human, requiring approximately 21 hours. Aaron James, aged 46, now holds renewed optimism following this remarkable surgery. The operation came in the aftermath of a tragic electrical accident that inflicted extensive damage to his left eye and facial features.
In June 2021, James, a former soldier from Arkansas, suffered profound facial injuries during his military service. His face made contact with a live electrical wire, delivering a powerful 7,200-volt shock. The aftermath of this incident led to the loss of his left eye, nose, lips, and portions of his cheek and chin. Additionally, the severity of the injuries required the surgical removal of his left arm.
After over a year of intensive treatment including reconstructive surgeries, doctors approached James about the possibility of a face transplant. When the option of including the whole eye emerged, he eagerly agreed despite risks. "You have to have a patient zero," James said.
Led by renowned NYU Langone plastic surgeon Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, a 140-member team successfully attached a donor eye, nose, lips and facial tissue to James in the highly complex procedure completed in May 2022. It marked the first whole-eye transplant on a living person ever achieved.
While Dr. Rodriguez had performed four face transplants before, transplanting an entire eye was completely unprecedented. "It's uncharted territory," he acknowledged, with no guarantees of success. The intricate surgery spanned two rooms over nearly 24 hours. One team focused on carefully detaching James' damaged eye and facial sections, preserving the optic nerve. Meanwhile, Dr. Rodriguez meticulously dissected the donor eye and face.
After 12 hours, the donor parts were transplanted. To potentially aid nerve regeneration, adult stem cells were injected where the optic nerve connected. This novel step may someday allow restored vision, though its efficacy is still uncertain.
Despite the risks, James and his family were overwhelmed with gratitude post-surgery. "I was just happy he made it through, and everything was good in the moment," said wife Meagan James. Aaron himself was thrilled to see his new visage.
James still faces a long recovery, including medications to prevent rejection of the transplant. But checkups have shown extremely promising signs of health in the donor eye. Blood flow has reached the retina, and tear production indicates his brain is communicating with the eye.
While vision restoration remains speculative, James is cautiously optimistic. "If I can see out of it, that's great," he said. "But if it'll kick-start the next path in the medical field, then I'm all for it."
Rodriguez holds out hope as well, though admits it's "uncharted territory." He plans to closely monitor James for any unexpected progress. "A transplant of this kind has never been done, and transplants have a unique way to work," Rodriguez noted.
Either way, James' groundbreaking surgery represents a massive leap for transplant medicine. Dr. Oren Tepper, a craniofacial surgery expert, called it "a significant advancement," especially if any visual signals emerge. The team's innovative work may pave the way for future advancements.
James' path to becoming the first whole-eye transplant recipient began with a tragic accident in 2021. While working as a high-voltage lineman, his face accidentally touched a live wire during a procedure.
The electrical jolt immediately ravaged his face. Wife Meagan James recalls the horror of seeing her husband's extensive wounds for the first time after rushing to his bedside. "His chinbone was exposed," said daughter Allie.
After months of intensive treatment and reconstructive surgeries, the proposed face transplant brought hope. "As soon as the face transplant got talked about, that's when I thought, ‘Man, this is a big deal,’" recalled Aaron James. His selfless decision to pursue the unproven surgery has now made medical history.
James' journey embodies the depths of human resilience and scientific creativity. After an accident that could have killed him, his survival and now trailblazing transplant exemplify the power of modern medicine at its best. "It's a testament to this patient and his family," said Dr. Rodriguez, inspired by James' strength. Rodriguez added the procedure showcases "some celestial involvement where it wasn't his time to go."
James and his family understand the gift of a second chance and remain deeply grateful. His choice to pursue a first-of-its-kind surgery for the advancement of others displays courage and selflessness rarely seen.
As James continues recovering, his landmark operation will fuel further innovations in transplant medicine for years to come. His story epitomizes the groundbreaking work doctors can achieve when united with an extraordinary patient.
