At 18, Joe DiMeo’s life changed in an instant when he fell asleep driving home from a night shift in July 2018. His Dodge Challenger flipped after its headers scraped the curb, igniting a fire when the oil can split. The New Jersey teen suffered third-degree burns over 80% of his body, losing his fingertips, eyelids, and lips, and slipped into a three-month coma. Now 26, he’s sharing the haunting visions he experienced, which he believes gave him a glimpse of the afterlife.
DiMeo underwent 20 reconstructive surgeries and skin grafts before making history in August 2020 as the first person to receive a successful face and double hand transplant. During his coma, he recalls vivid, often painful dreams tied to the medical procedures he endured, like bandage removals in the tank room. “You’re dreaming, but the pain feels real,” he told People magazine. “It’s like you’re stuck in a cycle of hurt.”
One dream stood out: walking his dog, who died in 2012 or 2013, up a never-ending hill. “I thought that was the afterlife,” DiMeo said. “Just me and my dog, forever.” The vision felt so vivid it stayed with him, offering a strange comfort amid the trauma of his recovery and the long road ahead.
Seven years after the accident, DiMeo’s life has found new meaning. He connected with Jessica Koby, a Californian who reached out on Instagram after hearing his story. At 22, he messaged her, and their bond grew into love despite an eight-year age gap. They married in Hawaii in December 2024, a bright spot in his journey of healing.
DiMeo now shares his story to motivate others facing tough times. “I want people to know they can push through,” he said. Though the accident left him with a new face and hands, it also brought him Jessica, his life partner. “The burns were awful, but I’m grateful for where I am now because of her,” he reflected.
