US girl who shot herself under her chin gets face transplant
After a 31-hour procedure, Katie Stubblefield became the youngest person to receive a face transplant in United States history. The surgery took place last year, Katie got a new face but only now she's sharing her story with the world, reports USA Today.
Katie had lost her nose and parts of her mouth and forehead, in a failed attempt at suicide. That was three years ago when a host of problems in life - such as chronic gastrointestinal issues, the loss of her mother's job, a painful breakup — had left her disillusioned and angry. One day in March 2014, Katie had picked up her brother's .308-caliber rifle and placing it beneath her chin, she had fired it.
She survived that attempt to kill herself but was left with a disfigured and dysfunctional face. She had since been put on a waiting list for a face transplant.
In 2017, a match was found. Katie was to receive the face of a 31-year-old organ donor named Adrea Schneider. Specialists at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio transplanted Schneider's scalp, forehead, eyelids, and nose as well as parts of her cheeks, jaw, muscle, teeth etc to Katie's skull. According to National Geographic, Katie Stubblefield is the 40th known person in the world known to receive a new face. Now Katie had 100% replacement of her facial tissue.
According to USA Today, the Cleveland Clinic hospital declined to identify Stubblefield after the surgery last year but released a statement from the transplant recipient.
"To call my surgeons, physicians, nurses and caregivers ‘world class’ would be an understatement," Katie has conveyed. "And to my donor and her family — words cannot express the appreciation I have for this incredible gift."
Before her suicide attempt, Katie says she never saw herself as beautiful. A photograph of her, taken after her injury and before the transplant, appears on the cover of National Geographic's September issue. "The Story of A Face".
"So many people have helped me," Stubblefield, who hopes to speak on suicide prevention, told the magazine. "Now I want to help other people." She has become a very active voice on teen suicides and prevention since after she survived a suicide attempt.
courtesy : timesnownews.com
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US intelligence flags possible Chinese support to Iran
Washington: The United States has gathered intelligence suggesting that China may be considering providing financial assistance, spare parts and missile components to Iran, according to a report by CNN citing people familiar with the matter.
The Times of India reported that the development follows a separate claim that Russia has been supplying Iran with real-time intelligence on the locations of US military assets in the Middle East, including warships and aircraft, which could potentially allow Tehran to target American forces during the ongoing conflict.
A source quoted by TOI, in the report said China appeared cautious in its approach. “China is more cautious in its support. It wants the war to end because it endangers their energy supply,” the source said. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, said Russia and China were “not really a factor” in the war involving Iran.
Neither the Central Intelligence Agency nor the United States Department of Defense has commented on the reports about possible Russian and Chinese assistance to Iran.
Russia has publicly called for an end to the conflict. It described the conflict as an “unprovoked act of armed aggression," while the Russian embassy in Washington, DC did not respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.
The reported intelligence sharing also points to evolving alignments among US adversaries.
During the Russia-Ukraine War, Iran, China and North Korea have provided different forms of military or material support to Russia, while the United States has supplied Ukraine with weapons and intelligence to assist its forces.
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