MIAMI – Robert Chelsea, a man who enjoyed simple pleasures like bowling and dancing, had his life turned upside down in 2013 after a devastating accident. While waiting for help after his car overheated on the shoulder of the 605 highway in Los Angeles, Chelsea was hit by a drunk driver with three previous DUI convictions. The impact caused his car to explode, leaving him with severe injuries including a mangled face and burns. Chelsea spent six months in a coma and underwent over 30 surgeries to repair the damage.
In 2019, at the age of 68, Chelsea made history as the first and oldest Black patient to receive a face transplant. Now, almost five years later, he is part of a documentary aiming to educate and raise awareness about facial transplants, especially within the Black community. Chelsea wants more doctors to enter the field and hopes to encourage more people to become organ donors. Despite the challenges he faces and the changes to his appearance, Chelsea’s faith in God remains strong. The documentary is currently in its early stages, with no release date announced yet.
