Man who underwent world’s first face & double hand transplant shares adorable engagement vid after suffering 80% burns
THE world’s first successful face and double hand transplant patient has announced his engagement to his partner with an adorable video.
Joe DiMeo, 26, found love back in 2021 for the first time since he was pulled out of a wrecked flaming car and left with severe third-degree burns to 80 per cent of his body.
Despite his injuries, future wife, Jessica Perez, 33, quickly fell for Joe after hearing about his tragic story on social media.
The pair have been inseparable ever since with Joe finally announcing back in September that they have become engaged.
Brave Joe got down on one knee as he handed Jessica a glitzy diamond ring and asked her to marry him.
Jessica shared the amazing video of the proposal on her Instagram account.
She added the caption: “I guess I’m the right one. Joe asked and I said Yes. I can’t wait.”
The pair shared a cuddle and a kiss after the proposal as Jessica showed off her sparkling ring.
This week Jessica has posted a whole number of heartfelt pictures online of the pair as they prepare for the big day.
Three pictures show the lovable duo holding on to one another as they had professional photos taken in the woods.
Jessica’s dog Kirkland was also featured in some of the snazzy shots.
Dozens of their loyal supporters flooded the comments with messages of congratulations after the announcement.
One said: “This is just so crazy I literally remember when yall first started dating. I’m so happy for you both! Congratulations.”
A second wrote: “Didn’t think I’d be crying on a Monday morning but here we are.
“Congrats, you guys deserve the world.”
A third added: “This is everything!! Happy engagement!!
“Love and happiness always to you both!”
The exact date of the wedding isn’t clear but a recent post of the pair online from Joe said: “Big things going down on December 5th.”
This has led fans to believe their big day is in less than a month’s time.
Jessica said in the days following the engagement that they had already planned out the wedding and booked it in before Joe even got down on one knee.
She has previously said that Joe ticks “all the boxes” for the perfect boyfriend.
Joe suffered third degree burns to over 80 per cent of his body after a horror car crash in 2018.
He fell asleep at the wheel after a night shift in Hillside, New Jersey before colliding with a curb which sent his Dodge Challenger flipping through the air.
The terrifying accident late at night left his car up in flames after it skidded across the road.
Luckily, Joe was pulled out of the burning motor by two heroic onlookers and then rushed to hospital.
Doctors had to amputate his fingers and stitch up his eye lids as they worked tirelessly to help the young man survive.
He was placed in a two-month coma and underwent 20 reconstructive plastic surgeries and skin grafts.
Then in August 2020 he was given the honour of being the first ever person to undergo the pioneering double hand and face surgery.
It took an agonising 23 hours in total as Joe was given skin from a 48-year-old male stroke victim.
A team of 140 surgeons, nurses and support staff at NYU Langone Health Centre in New York City pulled off the remarkable treatment.
For several weeks afterwards Joe couldn’t move at all.
I love that he is gentle, kind and he is so courageous
Jessica Perez
But overtime he managed to regain his muscle memory and is now able to walk around, cook and even drive again.
He met Jessica eight months later and she helped him get back to his feet and enjoy life again.
Following his recovery, Jessica described Joe as a “very knowledgeable”, “courageous” and “kind” man.
The nurse said: “We developed a relationship initially long distance and then I moved from southern California to be closer to him and it has been great ever since.
“He is a pretty quiet guy so at first when you’re just getting to know him he keeps to himself and just observes his surroundings.
“He is very knowledgeable and anyone he talks to he can carry a conversation with.
“I really like that about him because I think that someone who is educated and speaks well is very attractive.
“I love that he is gentle, kind and he is so courageous.
“For everything he has gone through, he remains so positive and such a light.”