"There are no words to express just how grateful I am for this gift,” says Andy Sandness. The 32-year old Wyoming man received the first-ever face transplant performed at Mayo Clinic. “This is an extraordinary example of the teamwork, collaboration and compassion that we provide,” says Samir Mardini, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of Mayo Clinic's Essam and Dalal Obaid Center for Reconstructive Transplant Surgery. In announcing details of the procedure, Dr. Mardini added, “I couldn’t be more proud of this team.”