Andy Sandness didn’t expect to wake up. In 2006, consumed by pain and depression, he put a pistol to his mouth and pulled the trigger. In a split second, everything changed—but not in the way he thought it would. The bullet didn’t kill him. Instead, it set him on a path that no one, not even Andy, could’ve seen coming—a path of survival, resilience, and ultimately, rebirth.
Right after the shot, as medical staff rushed to keep him alive, Andy had one desperate plea: “Please, please don’t let me die.” That cry would echo through the next decade of his life, guiding him through a journey filled with surgeries, pain, hope, and an unimaginable second chance.
Video: 2 years after face transplant, Andy Sandness’ smile shows his progress
Living in the Shadows of a Broken Reflection
The aftermath was brutal. Andy survived, but his face didn’t. The damage was catastrophic—he lost his nose, jaw, teeth, and large portions of his face. For years, he avoided mirrors. Even after eight grueling surgeries over nearly five months, he still couldn’t stand to look at himself.
Imagine losing your identity in the blink of an eye. That’s what Andy faced every day. People stared. Strangers avoided eye contact. He felt invisible and exposed at the same time.
But beneath the scars was a man who wasn’t ready to give up. He knew this wasn’t the end of his story.
A Bold Step Toward a New Life
In 2015, nearly ten years after his suicide attempt, Andy made a life-altering decision: he signed up for the national face transplant list through the United Network for Organ Sharing.
It was a long shot. Face transplants are incredibly rare, requiring not only a matching donor but also a highly specialized team and extraordinary preparation. Still, Andy hoped.
Then came the call that would change everything.
A Gift of Life from Tragedy
Calen “Rudy” Ross was a 21-year-old outdoorsman from the Midwest. He took his own life in June 2016, just weeks before his wife Lilly was due to give birth to their first child. It was heartbreaking. But even in their grief, Rudy’s family wanted his life to mean something.
Lilly initially hesitated when asked about donating Rudy’s face. Her fear? That she’d one day walk down the street and see a stranger wearing her husband’s face. But when doctors explained that Andy would still retain his own eyes and forehead—he’d never truly look like Rudy—she agreed.
That brave, selfless act gave Andy more than a new face. It gave him a new beginning.
Video: Mayo Clinic’s first face transplant patient meets donor’s family
The 56-Hour Operation That Made Medical History
On June 16, 2016, a team of 60 medical professionals—surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and technicians—gathered at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. What followed was a 56-hour marathon surgery: the first face transplant ever performed at the facility.
Andy received Rudy’s nose, lips, cheeks, jaw, teeth, and chin. When he woke up, everything felt different—because everything was different. His surgeon, Dr. Samir Mardini, called it a miracle. Andy simply called it a second chance.
Rebuilding Life One Smile at a Time
The recovery was long and intense. Andy underwent additional surgeries to tighten his skin and rebuild bone structure around his eyes. He worked with a speech therapist to relearn how to speak, smile, and move his new face.
He trained his muscles like an athlete in rehab. Every smirk, every blink, every movement was a victory.
And slowly, he began to recognize the man in the mirror again—not because he looked like the old Andy, but because he could finally live again.
From Isolation to Integration
For the first time in a decade, Andy felt like he belonged. He wasn’t the guy people whispered about in public. He wasn’t hiding. He was free.
In his own words, “Now, I’m just another face in the crowd.” That might sound ordinary, but for Andy, it’s extraordinary. Blending in meant reclaiming his life, his confidence, and his identity.
He returned to work. He reconnected with friends. He began dreaming again.
A Story That Redefines Hope
Andy’s story isn’t just about science. It’s about humanity. About second chances. About finding light even after your darkest moment.
He openly shares his past to encourage others struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. If his lowest moment can lead to something so life-affirming, maybe others will pause before making a permanent decision in a temporary storm.
Video:
Mayo Clinic’s First Face Transplant: The Patient
Andy Sandness didn’t plan on becoming a symbol of hope. He just wanted to survive. But through one of the most groundbreaking face transplants in medical history, he did more than survive—he inspired.
His story is proof that even when everything falls apart, it’s possible to rebuild. That scars can be reminders of resilience. That sometimes, the face in the mirror doesn’t just reflect who you are—it reflects how far you’ve come.
And today, when Andy walks into a room, he doesn’t feel invisible. He feels human. He feels alive. And that, more than anything, is the real miracle.