Robert Chelsea is counting his blessings every day after a tragic accident left him disfigured for the rest of his life.

Robert Chelsea a native of Los Angeles California started his day on August 5^th, 2013, like any other person preparing for work, taking care of business, the normal things we all do each day. Not knowing that this day his life would change forever. As Robert was driving home on the freeway in his Chevy Blazer it overheated and he pulled over on the shoulder to see what was wrong. As Robert got back in his car to call a friend to come help, his car was struck by a drunk driver causing it to burst into flames and catching Robert on fire.

 I saw a drunk driver swerving across the lanes and he ran on the shoulder right into me. 

When the drunk driver hit Robert’s car his car went up in the air and when it came down it burst into flames Robert was trapped in a burning car. Robert was rescued from the burning car and rushed to the hospital where he was treated with extensive burns all over his body. This was just the beginning of Robert’s remarkable journey.

I was in the hospital for about a year and a half, and I was also in a coma for six months.

Robert’s recovery was very slow due to the extent of his injuries he had to learn to walk again and was sent to a Boston hospital to restore his appearance along with trying to find black donors to match his skin color. For years Robert could not speak properly because his jawbones were crushed, and he had difficulty eating and drinking.  

After leaving the hospital I went to live with my sister for about three years recovering.

During this time Robert began to meet with multiple plastic surgeons and other neurologists to restore his total body due to the severe damage the burns had done. Robert’s whole face was burnt off including his lips, part of his tongue and nose leaving him completely disfigured. Robert also had some fingers and toes amputated. Through all this Robert has no complaints.

God is available to everyone single one He has created because He cared for me in a special way.

Robert gives God the credit for sustaining him mentally that the effects of what happened to him did not affect him like it did his family or people around him. Robert has a daughter which he loves dearly who was probably affected more than anyone. She has come to terms with her father’s condition and has learned to live and accept her father the way he is. After all, he’s still her dad.

Robert was the first black patient and the oldest to receive a full-face transplant. He also has a foundation called the Robert Chelsea Foundation which encourages people to become organ donors. This is something we all need to take seriously; you never know what tomorrow may bring. Robert is proof that miracles still happen. He laughed in death’s face and lived to tell his story. If you would like to know about his story and his amazing journey to recovery you can visit his website https://www.robertchelsea.org.

Written by Gloria Peebles