In 2014, the Stubblefield family was shaken to the core when their youngest, Katie, literally lost her face from a shotgun blast. To everyone’s astonishment, she survived the injury, but her wound was catastrophic. She was only 18.
Her father, Robb Stubblefield, recently wrote, “It seems like a lifetime ago…sitting in a trauma intensive care unit late at night…crying out in a muffled whispering of faith and heartache for God’s triumph to show itself…But here we are…having come so far.”
This family’s faith is nothing short of remarkable. Countless people are praying and supporting the Stubblefields and in turn have been touched by the grace of God themselves.
To date, very few face transplants have been attempted and succeeded. But last May at the Cleveland Clinic, Katie Stubblefield became the youngest recipient to receive a new face. Of course follow-up surgeries continue, and the risk of tissue rejection may require taking immunosuppressing drugs for the rest of her life. But hope abounds in this family.
Robb Stubblefield recently wrote on their Facebook page,
“A great man has said, ‘Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God and embrace the life you have.’”Continue reading
