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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Bhubaneswar, Oct 19: The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) lodged a police complaint against Odia actor Buddhaditya Mohanty for his controversial social media post about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

State NSUI president Udit Pradhan filed the complaint at Capital police station on Friday, demanding action against Mohanty for the post, which has now been deleted.

"In the social media post, Mohanty said that after killing NCP leader Baba Siddique, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's next target should be Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. We cannot tolerate such a remark against our leader," said Pradhan.

Along with the complaint, he submitted to the police a screenshot of the social media post.

Police said they have received the complaint and are enquiring into it.

Apologising for his earlier post, Mohanty wrote on Facebook on Friday, "My last post regarding Rahul Gandhiji..was never to target..harm, demean him in any way..nor write anything against him..unintentionally if I affected anyone's sentiments..my intention was not this..I offer my sincere apologies..regards (sic)."

Siddique, a Congress-turned-NCP leader, was shot dead in Mumbai on October 12.