or


[06/20/13 - 08:17 AM]
"Ann Curry Reports: A Face in the Crowd" Airs Friday, June 28 at 10P/9C
The one-hour special "tells the remarkable story of courage, faith, improbable decisions, and an extraordinary transformation."

[via press release from NBC]

"ANN CURRY REPORTS: A FACE IN THE CROWD" AIRS FRIDAY, JUNE 28 AT 10P/9C

THE REMARKABLE STORY OF RICHARD NORRIS TRANSFORMED BY THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE FACE TRANSPLANT SURGERY IN HISTORY

June 20, 2013 - New York, NY - In an Ann Curry Report: A Face in the Crowd airing Friday, June 28 at 10p/9c, Ann Curry tells the remarkable story of courage, faith, improbable decisions, and an extraordinary transformation.

When he was 22 years old, Richard Norris suffered an accidental shotgun blast into his face that left him extremely disfigured. After living for 15 years as a recluse, Norris chose to risk a groundbreaking face transplant surgery with the hope that he and others like him, including America's wounded warriors, would benefit. For the first time, viewers will hear from Norris in his own words, the donor's parents, and the physician who made medical history.

When Norris first met Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez at Baltimore's Shock Trauma Center, the Department of Defense was funding research to treat severe injuries in troops returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Luckily for Norris, some of that funding made its way to Dr. Rodriguez and would pay for his face transplant. In return for the chance to get his life back, Norris was prepared to risk his life, hoping wounded warriors might benefit from any knowledge gained from his transplant surgery.

After years of research and meticulous preparation, Norris was ready for surgery. All he needed was a matching donor. In March 2012 a young man who had just joined the Marines was struck by a van and taken to Shock Trauma - the same hospital where Norris was being treated -- where doctors determined he would not survive his brain injuries. As it turned out the young Marine was an exact match for Norris and once the young man's parents heard about Norris' story, they made the difficult decision to donate their son's face to him.

Norris, now 38 years old, underwent the most comprehensive and successful face transplant surgery in history. It far surpassed expectations and he now has a second chance at a normal life.

Following are sound bites from the report. If used, mandatory credit is required: "Ann Curry Reports: A Face in the Crowd, Friday, June 28"

DR. EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ: And he looks in that mirror and he looks at himself. It was probably one of the most emotional moments for me and for all of us in that room to see him.

ANN CURRY: Do you remember what he said?

DR. EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ: Yea, he thanked me and he hugged me.

CYNTHIA SHAFFER, DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL RESEARCH FOR DR. RODRIGUEZ: There wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was -- it was very emotional.

ANN CURRY: Because you knew he didn't just get his face back.

CYNTHIA SHAFFER: This was the start of his life again.

DR. EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ: It's the most extensive and most comprehensive face transplant in medical history.

###

GWEN AVERSANO (THE DONOR's MOTHER): I know people say that he doesn't look like Joshua, I however can see Joshua in him. Which made it a little difficult.

ANN CURRY: And did you reach out and hug him?

GWEN AVERSANO: Yes, when he came in, yes I did.

ANN CURRY: Were you hugging your son?

GWEN AVERSANO: Yes, I feel like a part of him was there. Sayin' that he was ok. Hugging him (Richard) - I felt like I was very close to Joshua one more time.

RANDY AVERSANO (THE DONOR'S FATHER): It was just amazing that, you know - in the midst of a terrible tragedy, you know, God could do something wonderful.

###

Alexandra Wallace is executive producer, Justin Balding is the senior producer and Ann Curry is the managing editor and anchor of Ann Curry Reports. Follow us at @AnnCurry, facebook.com/anncurry, google.com/+anncurry, youtube.com/anncurry and instagram.com/anncurry.





  [june 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.