14 DAY TRIAL // Richard Lee Norris suffered a horrific gun accident in 1997, in which large amounts of his face were blasted off after accidentally shooingt himself. For 15 years, he covered his face with a mask and almost never left his house in Hillsville, Virginia.
In March, he received a life-changing, anonymous skin donation. Today, months after a 36-hour reconstructive surgery in which his face, teeth, tongue and jaw were replaced, he is recovering and feels better than ever.
Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, led the surgical team of almost 100 doctors, scientists, scholars and auxiliary medical staff.
He explained that Richard has recovered motor functions in his face, 80% on the right side and 40% on the left. He has also regained his sense of smell, as well as his ability to chew, speak and eat, the Daily Mail reports.
The man is happy because he can shave, brush his teeth and perform similar actions that at one point were routine to him. It is that sense of “normal” that he craves for.
“I am now able to walk past people and no one even gives me a second look. My friends have moved on with their lives, starting families and careers. I can now start working on the new life given back to me,” Mr. Norris said.