Joe DiMeo was just 18 when a devastating car accident changed his life forever. Driving home from a night shift in July 2018, the New Jersey teen fell asleep, causing his Dodge Challenger to flip after its headers sparked a fire by hitting the curb and splitting the oil can. The blaze left him with third-degree burns over 80% of his body, requiring fingertip amputations and a three-month coma. Now 26, DiMeo is opening up about the dreamlike “afterlife” he experienced while unconscious.
After enduring 20 reconstructive surgeries and skin grafts, DiMeo made medical history in August 2020 as the first person to successfully receive a face and double hand transplant. During his coma, he recalls haunting dreams tied to the pain of medical treatments, like bandage changes in the tank room. “You’re dreaming, but you feel the pain,” he shared with People magazine. “It’s like your mind is trapped in the hurt.”
Among those dreams, one memory stands out: walking an endless hill with his dog, who passed away in 2012 or 2013. “It felt so real, like I was in the afterlife,” DiMeo said. The vision of his long-gone pet brought a strange sense of peace during his grueling recovery, offering a glimpse into the mysteries of his unconscious mind.
Seven years later, DiMeo’s life has transformed. He connected with Jessica Koby, a Californian who followed his story on Instagram. At 22, he reached out to her, and despite their age difference, they fell in love. They tied the knot in Hawaii in December 2024, a moment of joy after years of struggle. DiMeo now shares his story to uplift others.
By going public, DiMeo hopes to inspire people facing their own challenges. “I want to show you can get through the darkest days,” he said. Though the accident left him with a new face and hands, it also led him to his soulmate, Jessica. “I’d rather not have the burns, but I love my life now because of her,” he added.
