Emotional moment grandmother of face transplant donor meets the 21-year-old recipient

Publish date: 2024-09-10

The youngest person to ever receive a face transplant nearly broke down in tears as she met the grandmother of the woman whose face she now bears.

Katie Stubblefield, 21, made history on May 4, 2017 as she underwent a 31-hour surgery to restore her face structure after she shot herself under the chin in a botched suicide attempt.

After eight months and 22 days of recovery, she finally came face to face with Sandra Bennington, the woman who made the life changing decision to donate the face of her granddaughter Adrea Schnieder, a mother-of-one who died of a drug overdose at 31.

The heart-moving reunion was filmed in the National Geographic Documentary 'The Story of a Face' in January 2018 at 17 minutes into the video.

After eight months and 22 days of recovery, Katie Stubblefield (right) finally came face to face with Sandra Bennington (left), the grandmother who made the life-changing decision to donate her granddaughter's face to the 21 year old 

After eight months and 22 days of recovery, Katie Stubblefield (right) finally came face to face with Sandra Bennington (left), the grandmother who made the life-changing decision to donate her granddaughter's face to the 21 year old 

In the film Sandra walks into the Stubblefield's family home with a smile on her face and says: 'Who is this lovely person?' upon seeing Katie sitting on the living room couch.

The two hug as they share introductions.

'It's so good to meet you. You look beautiful,' Sandra says holding Katie's hand. 

Although Adrea  Schneider (above) was a registered organ donor, Sandra, who adopted her when she was just 11, had to approve the use of her extremities

Although Adrea  Schneider (above) was a registered organ donor, Sandra, who adopted her when she was just 11, had to approve the use of her extremities

'I'm so happy I could meet you. Thank you so much for your kindness and just, what you've given me,' Katie says. 

'It's your gift. It is,' Sandra reassures as Katie is overcome with emotion and on the brink of tears.

'Your granddaughter was beautiful,' Katie's mother Alesia Stubblefield says. 

Sandra, Katie and her parents then hold hands and share a prayer.

Later in the moving documentary Katie and her family visit Sandra with flowers on Mother's Day to share their thanks yet again.  

Katie's family learned they got a donor in May 2017 shortly after Adrea Schneider's death.

Adrea died at the age of 31, leaving behind a son. Although she was a registered organ donor, Sandra had to approve the use of her extremities.

Sandra adopted Adrea when she was just 11 due to her mother's drug addiction. Two years after she was adopted, Adrea's mother passed away.

'Adrea, we didn't always get along, you know how it is with family. But we were able to spend a time together in the year or six months before she passed away. If Adrea was willing to donate her organs, why would she need a face?' Sandra said in the documentary. 

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Share Historic: Katie Stubblefield tried to take her own life in March 2014 with a rifle. On May 4, 2017, she became the youngest person ever to receive a face transplant. Pictured: Katie (left) aged 17, eight months before her attempted suicide; and (right) at 22, a year after her transplant

Historic: Katie Stubblefield tried to take her own life in March 2014 with a rifle. On May 4, 2017, she became the youngest person ever to receive a face transplant. Pictured: Katie (left) aged 17, eight months before her attempted suicide; and (right) at 22, a year after her transplant

Katie (pictured, left, before her operation and, right, after) is the 40th person in the world to receive a face transplant, and the third at the Cleveland Clinic

Katie (pictured, left, before her operation and, right, after) is the 40th person in the world to receive a face transplant, and the third at the Cleveland Clinic

'I still wrestle with that every now and then. It was something I didn't expect. I thought about it, prayed about it, this is the right thing to do so something else can have, maybe, a better life. That's what made my decision,' she added.

Katie's story is detailed in the September issue of National Geographic

Katie's story is detailed in the September issue of National Geographic

Speaking on the life-changing gift Katie's mother Alesia said: 'I knew it was going to take someone special to give their daughter's or granddaughter's or wives face so someone else could live.'

Katie tried to take her own life on March 2014 with a rifle, destroying her face. 

She is the 40th person in the world to receive a face transplant and the youngest to in history. 

According to National Geographic, Adrea's 15-year-old son knows that his mother has saved the lives of seven people thanks to her organ donation, but he still doesn't know her face was used.

However, Katie will not look like Adrea because the face molds to her body.

Nonetheless, such a transformation is a psychological ordeal that defies our entire understanding of our sense of self.

Katie was given hours of therapy and psychological screening to ensure she was ready for such a step prior to her May 4, 2017 operation.

Her surgery was a historic one involving 11 surgeons, virtual reality techniques, and overnight work amounting to a painstaking 31-hour operation.

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