Face Transplant Patient Doing Well After 7 Months

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The University of Maryland Medical Center says a Virginia man who received a full-face transplant seven months ago eats primarily by mouth and can taste and smell.

Richard Lee Norris, 37, of Hillsville, Va. received the transplant in a 36-hour in March. It included the replacement of both jaws, teeth, tongue, and skin and underlying nerve and muscle tissue from scalp to neck.

The university said Norris, who was injured in a gun accident in 1997, spends his time fishing and golfing. He was quoted as saying he is regaining his speech and can smile and show expression.

The transplant was led by Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of plastic, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgery at Shock Trauma.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)