Face donor’s family meets recipient

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey’s first face transplant patient Uğur Acar met with his donor’s family yesterday for the first time after the historic surgery.

Uğur Acar received a transplant of the face of 35-year-old Ahmet Kaya from the southern province of Antalya on Jan. 22.

Kaya’s daughter Emine Kaya saw her father’s face on a new body yesterday and said Acar had the same look as her dad.

“His nose, lips, eyebrows – they belonged to my dad once. Now Uğur has them. His happiness is enough for me to be happy,” Emine Kaya told broadcaster CNN Türk.

Emine Kaya said she and her family talked to Acar for only 10 minutes but would like to stay in touch with him when he is discharged from the hospital.

Ahmet Kaya died Jan. 20 after attempting to commit suicide Jan. 8. His face was donated by his family to Acar, and his arms and leg were donated to 34-year-old Atilla Kavdır, whose body rejected the leg. Ahmet Kaya’s family said they were proud of donating Kaya’s organs and recommended everyone to do the same.

Acar, 19, saw his new face in the mirror for the first time Feb. 14, more than three weeks after the surgery.