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About
New Jersey native famous for becoming the world's first recipient of a successful combined face and double hand transplant at the age of 22. He underwent the groundbreaking 23-hour surgery, which was performed at NYU Langone Health by a team of over 140 medical professionals, after suffering third-degree burns on over 80% of his body in a car accident. His story has been presented by countless media outlets including a detailed profile on NJ.com. He also chronicled his story through the book 80 Percent Gone, 100 Percent Strong: Rebuilt with Resilience.
Before Fame
Prior to the accident, he worked as a product tester. The accident occurred when he fell asleep at the wheel after a nighttime shift at work, causing his car to flip and burst into flames.
Trivia
He has shared his inspiring story on social media, showcasing his resilience and dedication to positivity with over 250,000 followers on his joedimeo TikTok account.
Family Life
His parents' names are John and Rose. After meeting Jessica Perez, a nurse from Ohio, through social media in 2021, the couple got engaged in 2024. They tied the knot in Hawaii in December later that same year. He has a dog named Buster who remained by his side throughout his recovery. He also welcomed another dog, a blue nose pit bull named Ranger, to his family in August 2025.
Associated With
In 2024, he was featured on Soft White Underbelly, where he was interviewed by photographer Mark Laita.
