Katie Stubblefield had her whole life ahead of her, but everything changed after her boyfriend broke up with her at age 18. Tragically, the teenager shot herself — though by some miracle, she survived.
At 21, Katie became the youngest face-transplant recipient in the United States and only the 40th person ever to undergo the procedure. The surgery took more than 30 hours, but the surgeons did an incredible job, giving the young woman a second chance at life. How Katie looks after the surgery is simply astonishing.
It’s easy to get frustrated over small things in our everyday lives. Maybe your morning coffee was a little cold, the bus was running late, or a show you watched last night didn’t live up to your expectations.
It’s natural to complain occasionally — we all live different lives. But it’s important to pause sometimes and appreciate what we have, even if it isn’t the dream scenario we’re aiming for.
From now on, whenever I feel too tired to do a simple task — like the dishes or taking out the garbage — or feel like complaining about small things, I remind myself of Katie Stubblefield.
Katie Stubblefield
When she was 18, Katie tried to take her own life by shooting herself in the face. Miraculously, she survived but lost much of her face, which led to the need for a face transplant.
This is her inspiring story — one we hope you’ll share with others!
Katie had everything going for her. Her family had moved from Lakeland, Florida — where she had lived her entire life — to Owensboro, Kentucky, during her sophomore year of high school. A year later, the family moved again, this time to Oxford, Mississippi, where her parents began teaching at a local Christian school.
Katie was “fearless” and “a lot of fun,” her older sister Olivia recalled. She had a great sense of humor and was always helping others. But as Katie grew older, Olivia noticed a change in her.
“She wanted to be the best at all these sports she had never even tried before,” Olivia said. “She wanted to excel academically, studying for hours all the time.”
Chronic gastrointestinal troubles
Katie attended the same school where her parents taught, and it wasn’t long before she found love with a classmate. The relationship quickly became serious, with discussions of marriage.
Yet during her senior year, Katie’s life changed forever. She had already experienced chronic gastrointestinal issues and surgery, including removal of her appendix and, later, her gallbladder due to complications.
The family situation was also difficult: both of Katie’s parents had been fired from their jobs.
On March 25, 2014 — her 18th birthday — Katie discovered texts from another girl on her boyfriend’s phone. She confronted him, and he broke up with her. Heartbroken, Katie decided she didn’t want to live. She drove to her brother’s house, visibly upset.
“I was like, ‘What are you doing home from school?’” Robert Stubblefield explained. “So I called our parents, like, ‘Hey, just so you know, she’s at my house right now.’”
Tried taking her own life
Katie’s mother, Alesia, arrived to comfort her, but Katie refused to talk. Robert and Alesia stepped outside to discuss the situation. Suddenly, they heard a door slam. They ran inside to find the bathroom door shut and locked.
“I tried to open the door,” Alesia recalled. “I said, ‘Katie?’ And nothing. Then I said it again… and about the third time, my heart started racing.”
“I smelled gunpowder,” Robert added. “I knew exactly what had happened.”
Katie had shot herself in the face. Family and first responders feared the worst. Miraculously, she still had a pulse and could speak. She was rushed to the emergency room.
“When she was in the ER… she said, ‘Tell my mom and dad I love them — I’m sorry,’” her father told ABC. “It took a lot of strength.”
“I had no clue what a face transplant was”
Katie had lost parts of her forehead, nose, sinuses, and most of her mouth, as well as the jaw and front facial bones. Her eyes survived but were severely damaged.
Doctors weren’t sure if she would survive, but began reconstructing her face. During her first night in the hospital, they told her family that a face transplant was her best chance at a normal life.
Katie doesn’t remember anything from the day she lost her face, or much of that entire year. Like her family, she was stunned that a face transplant was possible.
“I had no clue what a face transplant was,” Katie said. “When my parents explained it, I was excited to get a face again and regain function.”
“I felt so guilty”
Hearing what happened left Katie shocked. “I never thought of doing that before, and when I learned what happened, I didn’t know how to handle it. I felt guilty for putting my family through so much pain.”
Katie was hospitalized in Oxford, Mississippi, and then flown to Memphis, Tennessee. Her recovery was long, and she was placed on a waiting list for a donor.
After a year, a donor was found: Adrea Schneider, 31, whose family agreed to donate. Katie was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for the transplant.
Her surgery involved transplanting the scalp, forehead, eyelids, eye sockets, nose, upper cheeks, jaw segments, teeth, facial nerves, muscles, and skin — effectively replacing her entire facial tissue.
31-hour surgery
On May 4, 2017, 11 surgeons and several specialists began the 31-hour surgery, with assistance from virtual reality. The procedure was a huge success.
“To reach this point of recovery has often been a difficult road, but I’m thankful there’s been a road — and Cleveland Clinic has been the vehicle to help drive me along,” Katie said after surgery.
“I am forever grateful for the care from my surgeons, physicians, nurses, and caregivers. And to my donor and her family — words cannot express my appreciation for this incredible gift. With a grateful heart, I say ‘thank you’ to all who made this possible.”
Recovery and therapy
After surgery, Katie’s parents helped care for her 24/7. She had a long list of medications, attended physical therapy, occupational therapy, personal training, braille lessons, and speech therapy multiple times per week.
Speech was especially challenging. She had the donor’s mouth, with only her upper lip and soft palate remaining. Her parents helped interpret her speech, though even they sometimes struggled to understand her. Her voice was strong and nasal, which she described as “like a frog.”
Despite these challenges, Katie knew she was fortunate to be alive.
Fourteen months after the transplant, Katie underwent three major revision surgeries to slim her face, reduce scarring, and improve her eyelids.
“I am able to touch my face now, and it feels amazing,” Katie told CNN. “You take for granted the different components of our faces — bone, tissue, muscle — but when it’s gone, you realize their importance. When you receive a transplant, you’re so thankful.”
Katie plans to attend college online and possibly pursue a career in counseling or motivational speaking — fitting for someone who turned her life around and now inspires many worldwide.
We are thrilled that Katie received a second chance at life.
Please share this powerful story on Facebook to honor the amazing medical staff who made it possible — they are truly heroes!
