Hi all....well, this is one strong couple of individuals!
Love to you,
Heather
LOVE IS BLIND
Heather McKeown-Inflight
If you look up Dallas Wiens on the internet, you'll see just how remarkable it is to know that such a man exists. What's more, if you check out 'engagement party at Brigham and Women's Hospital', you'll be introduced to Jamie Nash. The couple met at a burn support group in their native Texas and, although it wasn't love at first sight, probably all the other senses available to Dallas were stimulated, so love was imminent. And, when you hear how the future bride felt about her beloved, you may hear the essence of what unconditional love is. Common issues, common goals, shared pain and wisdom born of those moments in time that may have been missed entirely, thereby preventing a meeting and ensuing romance. In retrospect and with complete honesty, both admitted that neither would have changed a thing, not even the points in time that electrocuted one and burned the other.
Dallas was an artist and young father. Jamie, a young mother.
Dallas was painting his church as an independent contractor and the electricity that coursed through his body could have been from electrical arching or from his human touch. “I don't remember.” he admits.
Jamie, mother of two babes, was alone in her car as she sent that last text message. Out of control, a few rolls, stoppage at a tree. Twenty-three minutes in a flaming car was enough to take the tissues of her arms and, if I were to describe those arms now, I'd say, “Interesting. Delicate.” Some may be aghast upon first viewing, but the energy and smile of their owner would knock any sorrow for her condition right the heck out of your mind.
I saw them first as they awaited boarding in the Boston Logan Airport. We were taking them to Dallas, Texas, where they'll be married at 11:00 am on March 30, 2013. They'd just celebrated their engagement with those caregivers at Boston's Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, where Dallas underwent his complete face transplant. They were huddled together, head to head. The seeing eye dog, Charley, was at their feet. Obviously, it was the man's because the woman was looking around and the fellow was wearing dark little glasses. I could see the long scar that marked the border between white and red skin on the man's neck. The vibe they were sending out was a combination of elation and the need to hold each other close. Either hands, head, shoulders or all were in constant or alternating contact. The shows of mutual affection continued throughout the hours of airtime, too. A constant visual reminder of their need to give and receive assurance that their happy, challenging lives weren't just an ethereal creation.
They were the first to come aboard. The man insisted on putting all his baggage into the overhead bin. “He can do it!” said his smiling partner.
“Of course, he can!” I said. He accomplished the task after a few hits and misses then sat by the window as the woman pushed the big Golden Retriever into his place at their feet. The next time I looked, the man's hat had been removed and I could see that his hair fell away from the scalp in a wide straight line. Scars seemed to circle his face. His eyes were uneven and his mouth small and partially open.
When time allowed socializing, I asked how things were going and was told their story. “I just got new teeth two days ago!” stated the man with effort.
“They're beautiful, sir!” I only saw the bottom row, but they were, indeed perfect. His lower lip hung and the gum line was exposed. To talk he needed to support his lower lip in order to form words. “I'm not used to talking with teeth! My tongue isn't used to moving with teeth in my mouth.” he explained as if he were discussing the weather. This information was given with a practiced delivery style because explanation of his circumstances are common place in his life. A born teacher who knows the general population wants to know exactly what he's doing most of the time, willingly takes the initiative to assuage curiosity. His preemptive forays into educating the casual observer spoke volumes about his own self-assured openness and confidence.
Jamie, the woman who is to be the wife of the man by her side, spoke with the same candid self-acceptance. “He was electrocuted and is a successful face transplant recipient. We have both established our own non-profit organizations over the past two years. Today, we're working on an extension of our foundations with other survivors and we've called it PAIN WITH A PURPOSE. We want to teach people that out of pain can come great things, positive things!” As publisher of THE OPTIMIST NEWSPAPER, a subtle counter-suicide newspaper for teens, nationwide and beyond for the past twenty-three years, I could totally relate to their goal. With national television shows and speaking engagements all over the world, this couple; forever disfigured and physically challenged by there injuries, will take their experiences to the masses. Dallas Wiens will encourage everyone to know, believe and succeed against all odds. A face transplant has given him the platform for persuasion. No false prophet is he. No, the man has survived and is now thriving, so no matter what physical infirmity those he meets may be worried about, he'll provide living, breathing, loving proof that, with an indomitable survival instinct and a great medical team, it takes both, a person can overcome the worst odds.
Jamie Nash has begun a NO TEXTING and DRIVING campaign using her physical scars to prove to all what consequences could befall those who do. TXT L8R is her labor of love. Check it out: www.jamienashtxtl8r.com Talk about turning her tragedy into a lifesaving tour de force!
Instead of saying, “Why me?”, both Jamie and Dallas have said, “Thank you for the opportunity to help others thrive after physical devastation and a platform to prevent needless death or injury. A face transplant isn't easy, pretty or painless. If one man can put his best face forward and say, “I have endured so others will try!” then many who hear of him will hang in there and survive. If one person refrains from texting while driving because they've seen and heard Jamie's story, then her pain will not have been in vain. Sometimes, adversity, agony and disfigurement is given to the right people. Bless their hearts and may their marriage be filled with joy immeasurable.
Thanks Heather
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