The captivating story of the first face transplant at Mayo Clinic.

For years, they came in on weekends to plan and practice—nearly sixty surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists, preparing to harmonize in a vast medical symphony. For the team at Mayo Clinic, it was their most complex surgery to date: a face transplant. 
 
At the heart of this event was Andy Sandness. He grappled with feelings of isolation and shame after a disfiguring suicide attempt but was determined to reclaim his future, to be seen as ordinary, and to belong again. Alongside him was Dr. Samir Mardini, a surgeon with an intense, unwavering desire to transform medicine and create a new life for his patient. 
 
Their story—told over nearly two decades—is a poignant exploration of resilience, hope, and friendship, as well as an incredible account of medical breakthroughs and scientific discovery that reveals the strength of the human spirit, and the courage to rise above our scars.  

Jack El-Hai is the author of books and articles on medicine, science, and history. He has written more than 600 articles and essays for The Atlantic, Smithsonian, GQ, Scientific American, Wired, The Washington Post Magazine, and many other publications. His books include The Nazi and the Psychiatrist (recently adapted into the movie Nuremberg), The Lobotomist, and The Lost Brothers. He lives in Minneapolis, MN.