The Man with a Hole in his Face

Donnie Fritts is examined by doctors exploring the possibility of creating a new prosthetic face. A HUSBAND
who was left with a gaping hole in his face after cancer has kissed his wife for the first time in 10 YEARS after undergoing a major reconstruction. Father-of-three Donnie Fritts was told by doctors in 2003 to make a devastating choice; lose his nose, mouth and cheek or lose his life after being diagnosed with an aggressive tumour. Given just a two per cent chance of surviving the op and desperate to try for wife
Sharon, Donnie decided to have the ultra-rare cancer, called ameloblastic carcinoma, removed. But despite the 12-hour surgery being a success Donnie, a former carpenter, woke to discover the surgery had left him with a gaping HOLE in the middle of his face. Now a decade on the 55-year-old is celebrating having just undergone major reconstructive
prosthetic treatments giving him back his nose, upper lip and palette, and teeth. Now Donnie has the confidence to go out in public with his wife again – and is looking forward to taking her out for dinner for the first time in nearly 10 years.