Face Transplant Journey of Robert Chelsea

Robert’s Story: How a horrific accident tested his resilience and strengthened his faith  It started as a night like any other. 10 years ago, Robert was driving home from his weekly church fellowship in Los Angeles. His car overheated, and he pulled to the side of the freeway awaiting roadside assistance. While waiting in his car for help, a drunk driver smashed into Robert’s disabled car. The drunk driver had three previous drunk driving convictions and never should have been allowed on the road that fateful night. Robert’s car exploded on impact. He suffered third-degree burns over 50 percent of his body—mostly to his upper body and face—making him nearly unrecognizable to his friends, his family and himself. It was only by the grace of God and the quick thinking and heroism of bystanders that he survived the accident. After enduring more than 30 surgeries to repair his body and many years of prayer, Robert received cutting-edge surgery that helped him rebuild his life. He became the first African American to receive a facial transplant and now with your help, he can continue rebuilding his life. Please read Robert’s heart-wrenching account of his experience below. If you are inspired by his story, please make a donation to his gofundme campaign. No donation is too small. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. In His Own Words, “Following my accident, I was in a coma for the first six months and remembered nothing. That’s probably for the best. In total, I spent a year and a half in the hospital. While the burns covered much of my body, it was my face that suffered the worst visible damage. Nevertheless, I am grateful to God for the opportunity to continue to serve HIM! My challenges are great but not impossible! You have no idea what it’s like to speak to a customer, friend or a loved one when your lips and tongue have been burned. Despite their best efforts to hide their instinctive reactions, I could feel their disgust and discomfort, and there is nothing I could do. My business fell apart because of it, and many of my friends drifted away. However, my faith remains strong, and God has answered my prayers. After three years of tests and physical and psychological evaluations, I received the facial reconstruction/transplantation and now I am on the road to rebuilding my life.  HOW YOU CAN HELP AND WHY YOUR ASSISTANCE IS IMPORTANT. The goal of my Gofundme campaign is to raise funds to cover large co-pays that are associated with extensive medications.  Although his new face suits him quite well, there is the constant danger of transplant rejection, and he must take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life. As a result, Chelsea will need ongoing physical and psychological care, and financial support. Please join us in raising money to help Robert, as he is unable to work. He needs financial support for expensive medical co-pays, caregivers, travel to and from New England and day to day living expenses. If you would like to learn more about his facial transplant procedure, please click here:  and letters can be sent to: ROBERT CHELSEA 8001 Somerset Blvd. Unit 77 Paramount, CA 90723https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v75fdbpwXCICards