When Richard Norris accidentally blew off half his face with a shotgun he was left so disfigured that he rarely ventured outdoors and was plagued by suicidal thoughts.
But now, having undergone one of the most complex face transplants in history, receiving teeth, a jaw and even a tongue from a donor, the 39-year-old has found love – but has had to learn how to kiss all over again.
Norris has found romance with 43-year-old Melanie Solis, from New Orleans, who got in touch with him by email after reading about his ordeal.
She told The Sun: ‘I see Richard as having a beautiful, kind heart on the inside – and he’s a hottie on the outside!
‘Those eyes and that smile just had me at first sight. Kissing is something we have been asked to “practise” because Richard hasn’t redeveloped the ability to “pucker”.'
Norris said: ‘I can’t have any regrets – especially now I have met Melanie. People focus too much on looks, they can be very superficial.’
The pair meet about once a month, with Ms Solis always on hand to offer Norris a napkin in case he dribbles or support him in a crisis.
She tells of how Norris suffered a rejection episode when he got sunburnt and sent pictures of his face to his doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who told him to board a plane without delay.
He spent three weeks recovering from the episode in hospital.
The doctor that performed the operation at the Maryland Medical Center, Dr Eduardo Rodriguez, said when Norris opted to undergo the face-transplant intense procedure, he was agreeing to take on an enormous responsibility.
'He never really thought about himself in all of this,' Rodriguez told GQ earlier this year.
'He's always thought about helping the wounded warriors and the other people, and providing hope.
'He's a remarkable man.'
He had arrived home drunk and was arguing with his mother when he took a shotgun from his gun cabinet and told his mom he was going to shoot himself.
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