A man who underwent the world’s first face and double hand transplant has shared his sweet engagement photos online.
In 2018, Joe DiMeo fell asleep at the wheel of his car after working a night shift. The car crashed after hitting a curb and burst into flames.
The New Jersey-based 26-year-old only survived because two onlookers pulled him from the fiery explosion. By the time he arrived at the hospital, 80 percent of Joe’s body was covered in third-degree burns.
He was in a medically induced coma for two months and then underwent more than twenty reconstructive surgeries before his doctors finally found him a match to undergo a face and hand transplant.
In August 2020, Joe underwent a grueling 23-hour transplant surgery, which had only a six percent success rate.
After reading about the tragedy, Jessica Koby, 33, was inspired by Joe’s positive outlook on life and messaged him at Instagram.
The couple started exchanging messages every day, eventually went on romantic outings and fell in love.
Now, the lovebirds have taken their relationship to the next level when Joe recently got down on one knee and asked Jessica to spend the rest of her life with him.
A man who underwent the world’s first face and double hand transplant has shared his adorable engagement photos online
Jessica shared the update on their romance on her Instagram account.
Jessica and Joe caused a storm after their engagement.
The nurse showed off her sparkling diamond ring as she donned a black dress and matching heels.
Joe opted for a chic yellow top and black pants.
Joe and Jessica socialized as they celebrated the next step in their relationship.
The image was captioned: “Always my love.”
People on the internet flooded the comments section sharing their support for the beautiful couple.
One person said: ‘Beautiful couple, outfits and ring. I love you guys.’
After reading about the tragedy, Jessica Koby, 33, was inspired by Joe’s positive outlook on life and messaged him on Instagram
The couple started exchanging messages every day, eventually went on romantic outings and fell in love
Now, the lovebirds have taken their relationship to the next level, as Joe recently got down on one knee and asked Jessica to spend the rest of her life with him.
Someone else wrote: ‘Congratulations!’
Another user added: ‘The ring!’
“So incredibly precious,” another person commented.
When they first met, Joe and Jessica bonded over their shared love of Boston Terrier dogs.
Jessica previously opened up about their romance, saying: ‘We initially developed a long-distance relationship and then I moved from Southern California to be closer to him and it’s been great ever since.
“He’s a pretty quiet guy, so when you first get to know him, at first he keeps to himself and just observes his surroundings.
‘He is very knowledgeable and he can have a conversation with anyone he talks to.
‘I really like that about him, because I think someone who is well educated and speaks well is very attractive. I love that he is gentle, kind and so brave.
Jessica shared the update on their romance on her Instagram account
‘Despite everything he has been through, he remains so positive and so light.
‘I love Joe inside and out because he is a funny guy, he knew what he wanted in life and was very mature for his age.’
Joe’s surgery was a miracle for his family and the healthcare system, as doctors initially gave the procedure a six percent success rate.
He is the first in the world to successfully receive a new face and both hands from the same donor: an unknown man in Delaware.
Isabelle Dinoire became the world’s first recipient of facial plants in France in 2005. She died of cancer eleven years later.
It’s been tried twice before; first in Paris in 2009, but the patient died of complications a month later.
In 2011 in Boston, a woman mauled by a chimpanzee received hands and a face from the same donor, but her body refused the hands and they were removed.
Thanks to extensive therapy, Joe has slowly regained his independence and can now even drive again.
After the life-changing accident, Joe says he learned the hard way who his real friends were.