27-Year-Old TikToker Shares His Journey After Surviving a Life-Changing Accident and Receiving the First Face and Hand Transplant
Joe DiMeo.
Credit :
Albert L Ortega/Shutterstock
Key Facts
- Joe DiMeo was severely injured in a car accident at 18, resulting in burns covering 80% of his body.
- He later underwent the world’s first successful face and double hand transplant.
- In a new TikTok video, he shares insights on why he believes he survived the crash.
Joe DiMeo is reflecting on his remarkable health journey seven years post-accident, which led to the world’s first successful face and double hand transplant. At 27, DiMeo’s life changed dramatically following a car crash in 2018 that burned 80% of his body.
The incident occurred in the early hours after a night shift when DiMeo fell asleep at the wheel of his Dodge Challenger. He awoke months later in a burn unit, confronted with a long road to recovery. His experiences are chronicled in his upcoming book, 80 Percent Gone, 100 Percent Strong: Rebuilt with Resilience, detailing his recovery journey and the groundbreaking transplant.
In a recent TikTok video, DiMeo vividly recounted being in a coma for three and a half months and the challenges he faced, including relearning basic skills. "Waking up from the coma, I also lost 30 pounds of muscle because I was a gym rat back in the day," he said, a sentiment echoed by millions of viewers of the clip.
DiMeo emphasized that his physical condition before the accident played a critical role in his survival. "That’s the reason why I survived that accident, that’s what the doctors say. Because if it wasn’t for all that muscle I lost, I would have died," he noted. After months in rehab, he eventually returned to his parents’ home.
He connected with Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez at NYU Langone in 2019, who saw potential in DiMeo for the historic transplant despite the known risks, given that previous attempts on two patients had failed. More than 140 medical professionals participated in the 23-hour surgery that ultimately restored DiMeo’s hands and face using tissue from a 47-year-old donor.
In his TikTok reflections, DiMeo recalls discovering Dr. Rodriguez through recommendations from a New Jersey plastic surgeon before undergoing surgery in August 2020. Post-surgery, he focused on rehabilitation and regaining function in his hands.
Encouraged by others to document his story, DiMeo eventually decided to pen a book. "I never thought of it because I ditched writing class in high school, wasn’t a fan of it," he admitted. “But one day I just said, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’” He hopes that his narrative will inspire others facing difficult times.
Another significant chapter in DiMeo’s life unfolded shortly after his surgery when he met Jessica, who learned about him through a documentary. Their connection blossomed into a relationship, leading to their elopement in Hawaii in December 2024.
Reflecting on their journey, DiMeo acknowledges the challenges they face due to public scrutiny but maintains a positive outlook. "It sucks I got into the accident. I lost 80 percent of my skin, and I have someone else’s face and hands on me," he said, yet he recognizes the happiness his experience has brought him. "I’d prefer not to be burned, but I like my life now, just because I have Jessica around.”
The book, 80 Percent Gone, 100 Percent Strong: Rebuilt with Resilience, is now available.
Joe DiMeo.
Joe DiMeo/Instagram
Joe DiMeo before his accident.
Joe DiMeo/Instagram
Joe and Jessica DiMeo.
Joe DiMeo/Instagram
