Patients
Behind every reconstruction is a person enduring years of surgeries, scars, and uncertainty. This page exists because of what happened to us - and because patients deserve to know the truth about the current standard of care.
Founder Story
I underwent my first nasal reconstruction at 27. By the time I founded the Hopewell Foundation I had been through multiple surgeries - rib cartilage harvested twice, ear cartilage taken, a forehead flap. Each time I was told this would be the last one. Each time it was not.
I spent $70,000 on a surgery that left me worse than before. I created the Hopewell Foundation because I refused to accept that this was simply how things had to be.
The patients on this page are not statistics. They are people I know. People who trusted their surgeons with their bodies, their savings, and their hope.
- Katharine Derrey, Founder
Who We Serve
Statistics
4.3M+
basal cell carcinoma cases annually - nose is the most common facial site
5-15%
of rhinoplasties require revision surgery
24%
revision rate after tertiary surgery with rib cartilage grafts
63%
of patients screen positive for PTSD after complications
$30,000-$60,000+
out of pocket per complex revision procedure
0
patient-specific engineered scaffold alternatives currently in clinical use
The Current Standard
They are invasive. They offer no guarantee. And they create donor site injuries across the body - not one scar, but many. Skin from the forehead. Cartilage from the rib. Tissue from the ear. Each procedure trading one wound for another, often over years of repeated surgeries.
Documentary photographs shared with patient consent. Each image shows what the current standard of care actually looks like.
Patient Voices
The financial cost was overwhelming. The emotional cost was deeper still. A real solution wouldn't just change lives, it would finally break the cycle.
I asked if he specialized in revisions. The secretary laughed and said some patients have had up to seven revisions. I realized this wasn't a solution, it was a pattern.
I remember wondering if I would ever recognize myself in the mirror again. I still hold onto the hope that one day, I will.
The pain wasn't just in my nose, it was in my chest. Every breath, every movement, was a reminder of what my body had gone through.
Share Your Story
Are you a patient navigating craniofacial or nasal reconstruction? We want to hear from you. Your experience goes directly to our advocacy work with the FDA and helps shape the future of care for patients like you.
Share Your StoryHelp us fund regenerative reconstruction so the next generation of patients will not have to choose between scars.
Patient Stories
"I remember walking around with my head down at a young age to avoid confrontation."
Justin was born with frontonasal dysplasia, a rare condition that shapes the face from birth. Throughout his life, he has continually shattered the obstacles it has placed in his path.
Justin Stewart
Read their story →
"The pain wasn't just in my nose, it was in my chest."
Every breath, every movement, was a reminder of what the body had gone through.
Rib graft patient
Read their story →
"I still hold onto the hope that one day, I will recognize myself again."
Living through revision after revision, and still believing in a better path.
Patient advocate
Read their story →
The Hopewell Circle
Hopewell is building a community of patients, families, scientists, clinicians, engineers, donors, and advocates working toward a future of regenerative reconstruction.
Impact
46
Patients surveyed
18
Patients engaged in tissue-engineering research
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Scientific advisors and collaborators
Coming soon
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Patient stories shared
Coming soon
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Research collaborations
Coming soon
The field is changing. We're helping make sure patients are part of that change.