Joe DiMeo’s incredible recovery story: Updates and quick facts
Joe DiMeo survived a 2018 crash that left him with severe burns over 80 % of his body and amputated fingertips. In August 2020, he became the first person to receive a successful face and double-hand transplant. The 23-hour procedure at NYU Langone involved over 140 medical specialists. Since then, he has regained movement, facial expression, and daily independence. Expressing his gratitude, he said:
My parents and I are very grateful that I've been given this second chance.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- In 2018, Joe fell asleep while driving, causing a crash that left him with burns covering over 80% of his body.
- He remained in a coma for months and later underwent more than 20 surgeries, including skin grafts and reconstructions.
- The burns caused the loss of his eyelids, lips, ears, and parts of his fingers, affecting basic movement and vision.
- In August 2020, he became the first person to receive a face and double-hand transplant.
- The 23-hour operation at NYU Langone involved over 140 medical staff working in coordinated surgical phases.
- His recovery included months of intensive therapy to regain grip strength, facial motion, and daily function.
- Joe met Jessica Perez in 2021, and they married in December 2024 after building a strong bond through social media.
- He now lives in New Jersey, raises awareness for organ donation, and runs the lifestyle brand “80 Percent Gone.”
Joe DiMeo’s profile summary
| Full name | Joe DiMeo |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | July 24, 1997 |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Place of birth | New Jersey, USA |
| Current residence | New Jersey, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height in feet | 5'10'' |
| Height in centimetres | 178 |
| Weight in pounds | 160 |
| Weight in kilograms | 73 |
| Shoe size | 10 (US) |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Hazel |
| Mother | Rose DiMeo |
| Father | John DiMeo |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Partner | Jessica Perez |
| Profession | Motivational content creator, aspiring author, and entrepreneur |
Quick facts about Joe DiMeo
Joe DiMeo is known for surviving a devastating car accident and becoming the world’s first successful recipient of a face and double-hand transplant. His journey from near death to recovery has captured global attention. Here are interesting facts about his incredible recovery story.
1. He worked as a lab technician
Who was Joe DiMeo before the accident? He was a lab technician in New Jersey, where he tested food products in a controlled facility setting. He enjoyed physical fitness and car culture, frequently sharing photos of his car before the crash.
Is Joe DiMeo from a rich family? He was raised in a middle-class family. Before the accident, Joe was living independently but remained close to his family. However, after the accident, his parents, John and Rose DiMeo, became his primary caregivers.
2. Joe survived a catastrophic crash
What happened to Joe DiMeo? He suffered a horrific accident. In July 2018, he fell asleep at the wheel while driving home from a night shift. His Dodge Challenger veered off the road, hit a curb, and exploded into flames. The impact and fire left him with third-degree burns covering over 80% of his body.
Source: Instagram
Bystanders pulled him from the wreck before the car became fully engulfed. Joe lost multiple facial features, including his eyelids, lips, ears, and most of his fingers, from the incident. He was rushed to a local hospital and placed in a medically induced coma.
3. DiMeo underwent a lengthy medical ordeal
Following the car crash, Joe was placed in a medically induced coma for nearly three months. During this time, he underwent multiple lifesaving procedures and was later transferred to a burn rehabilitation centre. Once awake, he required extensive care, including painful dressing changes and regular skin grafts to cover damaged tissue.
He went through more than 20 reconstructive surgeries between 2018 and 2019. These included grafts, scar revisions, and partial restorations of function to his hands and face. Despite these efforts, his ability to eat, see, or perform daily tasks remained severely limited, thus needing a transplant.
4. Joe DiMeo received the world’s first successful transplant
In 2019, Joe was evaluated by Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, a renowned reconstructive surgeon at NYU Langone. A suitable match had been identified, and Joe DiMeo's donor would make the groundbreaking combined face and hand transplant possible.
The procedure was considered highly experimental, as no previous attempt at this dual transplant had been fully successful. Therefore, extensive simulations and planning took place for over a year to reduce the risk of rejection.
On August 12, 2020, Joe underwent a 23-hour operation performed by a team of over 140 surgeons, nurses, and specialists. The complex procedure replaced both of his hands and nearly his entire face, including forehead, eyebrows, nose, lips, ears, and eyelids. What was DiMeo’s hand and face transplant cost? The hospital did not publicly confirm the exact cost.
5. He underwent an intense recovery period
Joe remained at NYU Langone for nearly 14 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation after the surgery. In the hospital, he began retraining his muscles and nervous system to accept the new face and hands. His therapy sessions included occupational, physical, and speech therapy, often lasting five to six hours a day.
Source: Instagram
Doctors closely monitored him for signs of organ rejection, which is common in complex transplants and over time, he regained control of basic motor functions. Joe eventually learned to feed himself, brush his teeth, use a phone, and even play pool again.
He also developed facial mobility, allowing him to smile and express emotion. Joe has resumed an active lifestyle after years of surgeries and therapy, and is now focused on building his independence.
6. Joe DiMeo's wife is Jessica Perez
In 2021, DiMeo connected with Jessica Perez, a registered nurse from Ohio, after she saw a documentary about his transplant journey. They began chatting on social media and eventually formed a romantic relationship. Jessica moved to New Jersey to be closer to him, and their bond grew stronger during his ongoing recovery process.
The couple dated privately for a few years before marrying in December 2024 during a small destination wedding in Hawaii. Joe described Jessica as his “anchor,” and credited her support for helping him regain his confidence. Their relationship has since been featured in national media, showing a new chapter of hope and stability in Joe’s life.
7. Joe has gotten his life back on track
What does Joe DiMeo do for a living? He is a motivational content creator, aspiring author, and entrepreneur. He has become an inspirational figure and advocate for organ donation and advances in reconstructive transplantation. While Joe DiMeo's net worth has not been publicly disclosed, his growing influence suggests an expanding income stream.
Joe and his wife founded a clothing brand called “80 Percent Gone”, a nod to the 80% of his body that suffered severe burns in the crash. The brand serves as more than just a fashion line; it symbolises survival, resilience, and the will to rebuild after life-altering trauma.
As an aspiring author, Joe is reportedly writing a book about his life before the crash, the accident, the transplant, and recovery. The book is expected to offer raw insight into the emotional and physical toll of his experience, while also celebrating the medical innovation that helped restore his quality of life.
Final word
Joe DiMeo underwent the world’s first successful face and double-hand transplant in 2020. This followed a 2018 crash that caused severe burns and multiple amputations. He now lives in New Jersey with his wife, where he runs the brand “80 Percent Gone” and promotes organ donation through public appearances and social media.
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Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
