A Canadian doctor was among a world-class team responsible for giving a young woman in her 20s a new face and, by extension, a second chance at life.
Dr. Gaby Doumit, a plastic surgeon and cranial facial surgeon from Montreal, worked on a marathon 31-hour face transplant recently profiled in National Geographic.
The remarkable story of Katie Stubblefield, who nearly died by suicide at 18 when she shot herself in the face, was profiled on the front-page of the latest issue of the magazine. Stubblefield tried to kill herself with her brother’s gun after a breakup in 2014. Her parents rushed her to hospital where she was kept alive. The bullet missed her brain, but she lost her vision and speech. Her face was unrecognizable.
By speaking out, Stubblefield hopes to share her story with young people struggling with suicide. She hopes her experience can demonstrate the value of life.
“So many people have helped me; now I want to help other people,” she told National Geographic.
In Canada, suicide is a leading cause of death among young people. In 2009, it was the second leading cause of death among Canadians aged 15 to 34.
Crisis centres for those considering suicide are available around the clock in communities across Canada. Click here for a full list of resources.