IamA full face transplant patient that got fucked by The

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Check this edits, my bill just went up another $20k

I've done two AmAs here explaining my face transplant and how happy I am to have been given a second chance at a more normal life, rather than looking like Freddy Kruger the rest of my life.

Proof:

1st one

2nd one

Now comes the negative side of it. While I mentioned before that The Department of Defense covered the cost of the surgery itself and the aftercare at the hospital it was performed at, it was never brought to my attention that any aftercare at any other hospital, was my responsibility. I find it quite hilarious that they would drop a few million into my face, just to put me into thousands of dollars in medical debt later.

I recently went into rejection in my home state and that's when I found out the harsh reality of it all as seen here Hospital Bill

I guess I better start looking into selling one of my testicles, I hear those go for a nice price and I don't need them anyway since medical debt has me by the balls anyway and it will only get worse.

Ask away at disgruntled face transplant recipient who now feels like a bonafide Guinea Pig to the US Gov.

$7,000+ may not seem like a lot, but when you were under the impression that everything was going to be covered, it came as quite a shock. Plus it will only get higher as I need labs drawn every month, biopsies taken throughout the year, not to mention rejection of the face typically happens once a year for many face transplant recipients.

Also here is a website that a lot of my doctors contributed to explaining what facial organ rejection is and also a pic of me in stage 3

Explanation of rejection

EDIT: WHY is the DOD covering face transplants?

They are covering all face and extremity transplants, most the people in the programs at the various hospitals are civilians. I'm one of the few veterans in the program. I still would have gotten the transplant had I not served.

These types of surgeries are still experimental, we are pioneering a better future for soldiers and even civilians who may happen to get disfigured or lose a limb, why shouldn't the DoD fully fund their project and the patients involved healthcare when it comes to the experimental surgery. I have personal insurance for all the other bullshit life can throw at me. But I am also taking all the initial risks this new type of procedure has to offer, hopefuly making them safer for the people who may need them one day. You act like I an so ungrateful, yet you have no clue what was discussed in the initial stages.

Some of you are speaking out of your asses like you know anything about the face and extremity transplant program.

EDIT #2 I'm not sure why people can't grasp the concept that others and myself are taking all the risks and there are many of them, up to and including death to help medical science and basically pinoneering an amazing procedure. You would think they'd want to keep their investemnts healthy, not mention it's still an experimental surgery.

I'm nit asking them for free healthcare, but I was expecting them to take care of costs associated to the face transplant. I have insurance to take care of everything else.

And $7k is barely the tip of the iceberg http://fifth.imgur.com/all/ and it will continue to grow.

Comments: 3209 • Responses: 65 • Date: 2017-05-02 16:14:41 UTCsource

SuicideForJesus2261 karma2017-05-02 18:12:35 UTC

As someone who lost their face, lived for a time without one, and then received a new one, do you see your outward appearance as part of your internal identity?

Is what you see in the mirror "who you are," or just a mask being worn by the person inside?

Many peoples' entire concept of self is based on their external appearance, so I'm curious as to whether experiencing such a dramatic change to your outer shell caused you to reevaluate how you think of yourself internally.

IamA full face transplant patient that got fucked by The Department of Defense AMA!