Katie Stubblefield, the youngest face transplant patient in the world yet | Photo Credit: Twitter

After a 31-hour procedure, Katie Stubblefield became the youngest person to receive a face transplant in United States history. The surgery took place last year, Katie got a new face but only now she's sharing her story with the world, reports USA Today.

Katie had lost her nose and parts of her mouth and forehead, in a failed attempt at suicide. That was three years ago when a host of problems in life - such as chronic gastrointestinal issues, the loss of her mother's job, a painful breakup — had left her disillusioned and angry. One day in March 2014, Katie had picked up her brother's .308-caliber rifle and placing it beneath her chin, she had fired it.

She survived that attempt to kill herself but was left with a disfigured and dysfunctional face. She had since been put on a waiting list for a face transplant.

Katie Stubblefield became the youngest person in the US to receive a face transplant after surviving a suicide attempt. #9News https://t.co/AcOBE0QpPj — Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) August 15, 2018



In 2017, a match was found. Katie was to receive the face of a 31-year-old organ donor named Adrea Schneider. Specialists at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio transplanted Schneider's scalp, forehead, eyelids, and nose as well as parts of her cheeks, jaw, muscle, teeth etc to Katie's skull. According to National Geographic, Katie Stubblefield is the 40th known person in the world known to receive a new face. Now Katie had 100% replacement of her facial tissue.

According to USA Today, the Cleveland Clinic hospital declined to identify Stubblefield after the surgery last year but released a statement from the transplant recipient.

A groundbreaking face transplant gave Katie Stubblefield a second chance at life. Follow her family's story https://t.co/kWmroLntGW https://t.co/9BN8DDWOJO — National Geographic (@NatGeo) August 14, 2018

"To call my surgeons, physicians, nurses and caregivers ‘world class’ would be an understatement," Katie has conveyed. "And to my donor and her family — words cannot express the appreciation I have for this incredible gift."

Before her suicide attempt, Katie says she never saw herself as beautiful. A photograph of her, taken after her injury and before the transplant, appears on the cover of National Geographic's September issue. "The Story of A Face".

New interactive: This exclusive story follows Katie Stubblefield—the youngest face transplant recipient in U.S. history—on her journey before, during, and after surgery. https://t.co/ED7o0RWdJo https://t.co/IMa2RsDunN — NatGeoMaps (@NatGeoMaps) August 14, 2018

"So many people have helped me," Stubblefield, who hopes to speak on suicide prevention, told the magazine. "Now I want to help other people." She has become a very active voice on teen suicides and prevention since after she survived a suicide attempt.