Patients of Courage: The Honorees
The Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity program honors reconstructive plastic surgery patients whose lives were restored through reconstructive plastic surgery and whose charitable actions influence the lives around them. This award is supported by Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. ASPS members nominated patients who carry an optimistic outlook on life and positively affect people around them, despite the difficulties of their reconstructive procedures.
Four extraordinary reconstructive plastic surgery patients were honored by the ASPS at its annual meeting.
Read the stories of the 2008 Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity honorees.
Sgt. Robert Bartlett was injured by an IED during a recognizance mission in Sadar City, Iraq. The blast left him with severe facial trauma, burns and a closed head injury. After medical care and reconstruction at Walter Reed, he partnered with his ASPS Member Surgeon to reconstruct his mouth, cheek and eye.
After regaining the ability to talk, he became less self-conscious about public speaking, and he uses this skill to help motivate fellow wounded soldiers and heighten awareness about caring for wounded veterans.
Rachel Cooney was adopted from her home country of Ghana at age 9, after suffering severe burns to her face. Arriving in the U.S., she received life-saving skin grafts. A team, including her ASPS Member Surgeon, created a new nose from her arm tissue and cartilage from her ribs.
Rachel is active in her church's outreach programs - volunteering at local shelters and supporting church missions. She is also passionate about the Young Life Capernaum Project, a ministry of service for people with special needs.
Missy Fish was diagnosed with breast cancer in the left breast in 1991. She underwent mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with tissue from her posterior. In 2005, she was diagnosed with cancer in the right breast. She chose mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a TRAM flap.
Missy created an event celebrating the connection between women's fitness and their health. The CELEBRATE FITNESS workshop has raised over $700,000 for the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University.
Erin Williams was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by craniofacial deformities and underdeveloped ears, eyes and mouth. She has undergone 50 surgeries to close her tracheostomy and to reconstruct her eyes, ears, chin and cheeks.
Erin has a degree in special education and works with autistic and other special needs children at the Children's Craniofacial Association and the Ridge Ruxton Camp for Special Needs Children.
