Since his story went viral, Joe DiMeo has become a symbol of overcoming adversity and a marvel of medicine. The 26-year-old has served as an inspiration for many people who have gone through a similar situation. In a recent interview with People, he talked about how his life has changed, with a growing business and having married a nurse he met during his adaptation to his new life.
After suffering a serious accident and receiving a face and hand transplant, DiMeo’s reality changed completely, but today it is a completely renewed name.
Who is Joe DiMeo, the man who received a face transplant and has now started his new life with his wife, Jessica?
In July 2018, Joe, who was 18 at the time, suffered a serious car accident after finishing a night shift at work. While driving home, he fell asleep at the wheel and his vehicle crashed. “The car hit the side of the road, collided with a curb, and caught fire,” the young man recalled.
DiMeo was in a coma for over three months, and his rehabilitation process was quite extensive. "Basically, I was a 20-year-old baby again, and that’s not cool," he said. The young man suffered burns on 80% of his body, leaving doctors with no skin for grafts.
So, in 2020 he had to undergo a face transplant, becoming the first person to survive a face and hand transplant. The patient received his grafts from a 47-year-old donor, his surgery lasted 23 hours and more than 140 professionals participated.
The milestone made Joe DiMeo gain notoriety, and thus he decided to share his recovery process with the world on social media. Through TikTok and Instagram, the young man documented his daily life and shared his experience with his followers, earning people’s affection but also becoming a source of inspiration for many.
It was through social media that he met who is now his wife. Jessica and him started dating in 2021 after DiMeo sent her a message on Instagram asking about her dog. At that time, the young woman worked as a nurse for transplant patients. Although she knew Joe’s story from a documentary she watched, Jessica clarified to People that she never worked with him.
Joe and Jessica shared their love story, which broke through prejudices and is centered on the mutual admiration of the lovers. “Joe’s confidence shines through in everything he does,” stated the 34-year-old professional.
In December 2024, the couple got married in an emotional ceremony with all their family in Hawaii. “We wanted a sunset wedding so that the sun wouldn’t affect Joe as much,” Jessica pointed out. Currently, the 26-year-old is writing a book and has his own clothing brand called “80 Percent Gone”.