Donnie Fritts : The Man Who Lost His Face
July 2nd, 2010 - 7:49 pm ICT by GDBy Ranjan Bhaduri
July 2, (THAINDIAN NEWS) There are several types of cancer that attacks various parts of the human body and some of these are also curable. However, it is very difficult to battle a disease that takes away the face of a man. Incredible as it may sound Donnie Fritts a musician was faced with the same problem.
The man was diagnosed with ameloblastic carcinoma an aggressive but rare form of cancer that destroys facial tissues and bones. The doctors said his chances of survival were remote and the surgery would remove part of his brain and forehead and also his upper lip and nose. He was given the choice of ending his life or living with a distorted face forever. He chose the latter.
His wife Sharon Fritts was also worried just like her husband. In fact Donnie Fritts is the 16th man in the world to get afflicted with this rare form of cancer. It was in August 2003 that he had the surgery that removed the cancer affected cells in his face. Even after that he had to undergo 40 reconstructive surgeries so that his face appears less disfigured. However, when he saw his reflection in the mirror for the first time after the surgery he got the shock of his life. It scared him so much that he stopped thinking about meeting anyone again.
He recalls the time and says that he resembled a living demon with a hole in his face. However, he got a new lease of life after his wife met a reputed prosthetic specialist in Virginia named Robert Barron. He helped him to get a disguise for his distorted face.
- Cure cancer in just two hours - Jan 06, 2012
- Sam Champion To Undergo On-Air Surgery - May 12, 2010
- Doctor amputates trucker's penis without his consent - Aug 23, 2011
- Government will help Yuvraj: Sports minister - Feb 06, 2012
- Shanghai man who altered face to evade police held - Sep 04, 2011
- Sam Champion To Undergo On-Air Surgery - May 12, 2010
- India's first robotic liver transplant successful - Oct 13, 2011
- Yuvraj has malignant tumour, being treated in the US - Feb 05, 2012
- Miracle weed emerges as skin cancer cure - Jan 26, 2011
- Squamous cell cancer on the rise in India - Mar 29, 2012
- New robotic head and neck cancer surgery preserves speech sans scarring - Sep 08, 2010
- Portuguese man has 5 kg tumour removed from his face - Oct 21, 2010
- Golfer questions PGA double standards favouring Tiger Woods - Apr 02, 2010
- Surgeons remove half of pelvis, save leg during bone cancer treatment - Mar 22, 2011
- Common garden weed 'can cure skin cancer' - Jan 26, 2011
Tags: bones, carcinoma, cells, demon, disguise, facial tissues, forehead, human body, mirror, musician, new lease, prosthetic specialist, ranjan, reconstructive surgeries, reflection, robert barron, shock, types of cancer, upper lip, wife sharon
