MAN WHOSE FACE BECAME DISFIGURED DURING
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SHARES HIS NEW FACE WITH ’20/20′ IN FIRST TELEVISION
INTERVIEW FOLLOWING LIFE-CHANGING TRANSPLANT SURGERY
Hour Includes Emotional First Meeting with Donor’s Mother and Recipient
’20/20′ Airs on Friday, Nov. 16 (10:01 – 11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC
After Cameron “Cam” Underwood tried to commit suicide at age 24 by shooting himself in the face, his life was saved by doctors but he was left disfigured, missing teeth, a chin, cheekbones and a facial structure. Last December, Cam underwent a life-changing face transplant surgery that took over 25 hours to perform. More than two years after that tragic day, “20/20” co-anchor Amy Robach sits down with Cam as he shares his new face with the world during his first television interview, and opens up about his surgery and new lease on life. The hour also features Cam’s emotional first meeting with Sally Fisher, the mother of his face donor, Will Fisher. “20/20” airs on Friday, Nov. 16 (10:01 – 11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC.
The hour features interviews with Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who performed the face transplant surgery at NYU Langone Health; Bev Bailey Potter, Cam’s mom; Randy Underwood, Cam’s father; Julie Jones, Aaron and Brad Underwood, Cam’s siblings; Kevin Pauls, Cam’s friend; and Patrick Hardison, a Mississippi fireman who also underwent a face transplant surgery performed by Dr. Rodriguez after being severely injured in a fire.
Cam was an athletic young man who worked in his stepfather’s business after high school graduation, earning enough money to buy a house by age 19. However, over a period of years during which he broke up with his longtime girlfriend, drifted from a close friend, saw his dear brothers move out of state and dealt with stress from work, Cam began to suffer from depression and developed a drinking problem. After his suicide attempt, Cam was rushed to University of California Davis Medical Center where he underwent multiple surgeries. While his life was saved, it would never be the same and he began wearing a mask everywhere he went. After learning about the life-changing face transplant surgery that Dr. Rodriguez could perform on him, Cam waited for a perfect donor with the same skin tone, skull size, hair color, blood type and a full set of teeth. Cam found a match in Will who died after a long struggle with mental illness. With the blessing of Will’s mother, Cam received the transplant.
“20/20” is anchored by David Muir and Amy Robach. David Sloan is senior executive producer.
PHOTO (Cam Underwood’s emotional first meeting with Sally Fisher, the mother of his face donor): https://bit.ly/2qKgRuu
LINK: https://bit.ly/2DigcYR
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