Joe DiMeo shows before and after surviving a car fire. The first man in the world to undergo face and hand transplants has announced his wedding for December 5, 2024.
+ Click here to see the moment when Joe DiMeo proposes to Jessica
Joe DiMeo, 26, has announced his wedding for December 5, 2024. He became famous as the first man to undergo face and hand transplants after surviving a car fire.
In July 2018, Joe was on his way home from work when he fell asleep at the wheel after his night shift. The car hit the curb and caught fire, burning 80% of Joe’s body, and he was hospitalized for four months.
“Afterwards, I spent some time recovering quickly, and in the fourth month, I went to rehab,” he told Newsweek. Joe underwent a 23-hour face and hand transplant in 2020 at NYU Langone Health.
Currently, Joe has limited use of his hands but is already able to move his lips, blink, and raise his eyebrows.
He met his fiancée, Jessica, in 2021 through Instagram.
“He’s a very hard-working person, so even though he was disfigured, he was ready to go back to work. I think his ambition was what intrigued me the most,” Jessica said. The couple lives together in New Jersey, and their wedding is set for December 5, 2024.
Photos and video: Instagram @joeroydimeo / @jessicakoby. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
