Universal Ramblings

James Maki, a Massachusetts man who became the nation’s second face transplant recipient tells The Boston Globe that he is “happy” with the results and now just wants a normal life again.

In his first public statement since the 17-hour operation in Boston in April, James Maki tells the newspaper that he can’t believe he looks so much like he used to.

Maki, 59, lost his nose, upper lip, cheeks, roof of his mouth, as well as muscle, bone and nerves after falling onto the electrified third rail at a Boston subway station in 2005.

For years, he said, he rarely went in public because people would recoil upon seeing him.

Maki’s face was disfigured in June 2005 when he fell onto the electrified third rail at a Boston subway station. He lost his nose, upper lip, cheeks, the roof of his mouth, as well as muscle, bone, and nerves.

For years he rarely went out because people would recoil when they saw him.

Maki, who grew up in Amherst, said he also struggled with substance abuse.

“My life up to that point was a mess,” he said. “I knew if I had the surgery I’d have a chance for a normal life again.”

Maki never thought about the possibility of a face transplant until 2007 when he saw Pomahac on television discussing the face transplant program he planned to start at the hospital.

Maki underwent the 17-hour operation after a Brookline man, Joseph Helfgot, died following a heart transplant. The men were about the same age and had similar skin tone.

The hospital did not charge Maki for the operation, which cost about $200,000. The doctors donated their time.

Maki has since met with Helfgot’s widow and Isabelle Dinoire, the French woman who underwent the world’s first face transplant.

“She seems to be doing really well,” Maki said. “It made me feel good.”