If you haven’t seen or heard about Connie Culp, the lady who is the recipient of one of the first face transplants, you may want to.  She has been through so many traumas, pain, and humiliation – yet sought help and received a miraculous opportunity-of-a-lifetime.   Hers is an inspiring story, especially if you’re feeling bad about yourself.

Her husband pulled out a rifle and shot her, then turned the gun on himself.  He blew away her nose and an eye, shattered her facial bones and parts of her skull, and left her highly disfigured.  People stared at her and called her names.  A child once pointed to her and said “monsters are real, mommy, there’s a monster now.” Her husband lived, and is now in prison, rightfully so.

After about 22 hours in surgery, with other shorter surgeries before and after, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic attached a new face from a deceased donor.  80% of her face was replaced.   Connie first wanted a seemingly a little thing, to smell the smell of spearmint gum, and to eat pizza.  When she was able to smell and have solid food, it was a sign for the doctors that their experimental surgeries worked.

Connie’s courage, determination and will to live really inspires me.  When I wake up thinking about my problems, getting motivated to go work-out, write my daily blogs, do my day-to-day work to earn a living, I realize I have things really easy and my life is going really well, compared to what Connie has been through.  My problems seem minor.

Here’s a link to Connie’s first step in front of the public: a video of her press conference from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper online, click here. May God continue to bless Connie and her medical team.

Are you inspired by Connie?  Do you have hardships that you are working on?  Please post a comment.

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