Survivor of suicide attempt receives innovative face transplant: ‘It was just a miracle’

Derek Pfaff remembers being under a lot of stress throughout college. He remembers coming home from school during spring break in March 2014. But he does not remember the night that forever changed his life.

Derek Pfaff remembers being under a lot of stress throughout college. He remembers coming home from school during spring break in March 2014. But he does not remember the night that forever changed his life. “I don’t remember anything,” said Pfaff, from Harbor Beach, Michigan. “I don’t remember getting the gun, going outside, shooting myself or the weeks afterwards.” It was shortly after 1:30 a.m. when his father, Jerry Pfaff, noticed that the family’s gun cabinet was open. He searched the area around the house and found his son lying in a snowbank next to the garage. Derek Pfaff was rushed to the hospital. When he eventually regained consciousness and found himself in a hospital bed, he thought he had been in a car accident. The gunshot wound from his suicide attempt had left his face severely damaged. He lost his nose, his lips, his teeth and parts of his forehead, which affected his ability to breathe, chew, swallow, smile or blink. In the years that followed, Pfaff had 58 facial reconstructive surgeries. They were helpful, but he was still missing a nose, his upper and lower jaw, teeth, his eyelids and part of his forehead bone. He was unable to chew or speak easily.