I am very excited to hear of a surgion willing to risk the procedure. I am delighted and saddend at the same time that he was not excepted and had to go through that for 24 yrs, on the other hand i hope he can find happiness and continue a fulfilled life without the discracing comments he once heard.

congrats on your new face~

Von Recklinghausers’ disease I believe is also known as Neurofibromatosis… a neurological
disroder I am afflicted with, and that was NOT elephant mans’ disease. Please check your
facts… go to the childrens’ tumor foundation.org. May is also Neurofibromatosis awarness
month. Please (and thank you) do a feature. Contact me for help.

I alos have Von Recklinghausen’s disease also known as Neurofibromatosis (NF). I also have a disfigurement of my face. I am glad he was able to get the surgery. Your article mentions that John Merrick had this disease but he did not he had something call Proteus syndrome. I was a member of a non profit foundation The National Neurofibromatosis Foundation. They have fought for many years to take the “elephant man disease” label away from NF patients.

Wonderful that something can be done to enable acceptance. My concern is if it is genetic, which means it could be passed on to children, then why even think of having children and risking they may suffer also?

Congratulations that he feels more confident about himself! However, since this a genetic disease, he should really re-think biological children. He knows how badly this disease affected him; would he want the same for his children?

Joseph Merrick, aka The Elephant Man, actually suffered from Proteus Syndrome not Von Recklinghausen’s disease.

With all of the bad and depressing news we have today, now we have this wonderful story.

Thank you Fox News.

such a touching and heartwarming story.and such a beautiful ending.hope everything he wishes for comes to pass.so touching to have a second chance at life.hope all his dreams are fullfilled in every way.may god be with him always.so sad to see how some people do with their lives,doing wrongful things and throwing away their lives,when there is someone just dreaming to have a life.such a beautiful story.wish him all the best that life can bring,along with a wife and children.

May we all celebrate with this incredibly brave and transformed man.

What! No pictures? This story begs for pictures.

What a wonderful story. What an extraordinary doctor who had the courage and skills to perform this surgery and what an extraordinary man who had the courage and strength to risk the surgery. I pray that some woman will see the great inner beauty in this man who so much wants what we all need and want and that is, to love and be loved.

What an extraordinary doctor who had the courage and skills to perform this surgery and what an extraordinary man who had the courage and strength to risk the surgery. I pray that some woman will see the great inner beauty in this man who so much wants what we all need and want and that is, to love and be loved.

This was a wonderful story. I wish him all the happiness he deserves it !!!!!!

SUCH WONDERFUL NEWS!! LET US PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE IN THIS COUNTRY. THE AVERAGE DOCTOR MAKES LESS THAN THAN 300 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR. TO GET THERE SHE OR HE MUST HAVE: NO FREE TIME, GREAT INTELLIGENCE, A 4.00 AVERAGE AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED TREMENDOUS KNOWLEDGE AND DEXTERITY, ALONG WITH CLEAR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT…SO WE CAN BITCH ABOUT THEIR BIG CARS AND COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIPS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE NBA PLAYER MAKES NEARLY 6 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR–WITH MANY BEING PAID MUCH, MORE THAN THAT. FOR THAT SALARY, HE NEEDS TO BE TALL, BE ABLE TO JUMP AND RUN, NEEDS AN “UNPUBLISHED”, OR NO, GRADEPOINT, NEEDS TO DEMONSTRATE NO PERSONAL OR MORAL JUJGEMENT WHATSOEVER; RATHER, NEEDS TO DEMONSTRATE OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR (SODOMY, RAPE, ASSAULT, PRIMAL SCREAMING–YOU PICK THE REST) IN ORDER TO GET STANDING “O’S” AND THE ATTENTION OF A FAWNING, FEARFUL, PATRONIZING MEDIA.
I’M NOT A DOCTOR, BUT JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU–AND THE YOUNG MAN FROM FRANCE–I HAVE BEEN REWARDED BY THEIR DEDICATION. I CAN GET ALONG WITHOUT THE MORONIC ANTICS OF THE NBA, BUT I CAN’T GET ALONG WITHOUT PHYSICIANS.
IF YOU DON’T AGREE WITH THIS, I DON’T CARE–GO SHOOT SOME HOOPS. BUT IF YOU EVER GET A LUMP ANYWHERE—-CALL KOBE…

HAPPY KWANZAA…

Thank God for this miraculous transformation and Thank God, there is some good news out there. Thanks to FOX NEWS for sharing this touching story. Keep it up. We all need to know about some goodness out there in a sea of despair, scandals, wars, etc, etc.

I also have NF1 and am lucky to have had very few problems due to the disease. John Merrick did not have NF he had Proteus Syndrome. Fox reports and we decide that you need to check your facts.

Your story brought joy to my heart and tears to my eyes!! Thank you, FoxNews! And God bless that surgeon — what a hero!! This man is now able to lead a normal life and this is miraculous! Anytime we think we have problems, we should stop and think about those who have it worse and thank God.

I agree mostly with CANTJUMPCANSPELL.

However, yelling at everyone is not very polite…

He should seriously consider getting his cords snipped or casterated and not have children. I could never imagine having a child knowing this could be passed down to him or her.

I think John Kerry has this disease

Best of luck & God Bless you. There’s a great big beautiful world out there. Now , Go get it!!!

First of all, he said “children”, he didn’t say “children of his own”. Why is everybody so quick to condemn this man? Hasn’t he been through enough already?

Good for him for having the courage to go through with this life-transforming operation, and kudos to the surgeon for having the bullocks to perform it for him.

I for one hope he enjoys a long and happy life with his new face.

no mike, john kerry does not have this disease. john kerry suffers from a rare condition known as hermanmunsteremia. unfortunately, it’s never fatal.

What an incredible story. What kills me is that people were so cruel to him before. Where is their compassion? Probably the same people who are telling him that he should not have children. God bless this man and all he has gone through. I wish him great happiness.

I wish the best for this man. People can be very cruel and i am sure his heart was broken many time’s. God gave these Doctor’s the skill to help this man and he was blessed to have had the help of these fine Doctor’s and staff. I hope he find’s happiness and true love in his life. Best of luck to him.

I am saddened that Fox News does not check their facts before publishing stories like this on their website. While it is called, Von Recklinhausen’s disease, It is officially called Neurofibromatosis and it is NOT a disease. It is a genetic DISORDER. I resent it being called a disease because I have it, I don’t understand why people call it that. Because they want to glamor it up or to feel better about having it? I have no idea. Please go to nf.org (ctf.org) for more information. There you will learn that it was previously thought that the “elephant man” had this DISORDER, but he did not, he had Proteus Syndrdome. I think Fox News just wants to make the $$$ on stories and posting ELEPHANT MAN seems a sure way to get it I guess….

P.S I have NF type 1 as well, though not as bad as this man, I am so happy he had this procedure and he is happy.

I have NF and I also have a beautiful baby girl. This disease is not always dramatic and can manifest itself at many different levels. Those of you saying he should not have children are idiotic. Should people not have children because they have heart disease, history of family cancer etc. Ignorance can be genetic as well I suppose.

In the end, no matter who we are, we all want to love and be loved. I hope he finds his heart’s desire.

i hope you find the happines and love you deserve i wish you the love of your life and happiness blessed with a giving and loving wife and children whom you will adore and will love you more

God bless you, Mr. Coler, and your wonderful Dr. and surgical team! Remember, “man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” May everyone look upon you and see the joy in your heart reflected on your face! May you be thankful in your heart to God for His blessings, and may He continue to bless you with newfound friends, including that “special someone” you desire to make your life even more joyous. Best wishes, friend!

This story was inspiring. I wish Mr. Coler the best and all the joys the life has to offer.

Warmest regards to all.

Jango put it perfectly.

I hope he finds love and happiness.

Am I the only one who’s a bit worried about the one who donated his face? What did they do after taking his face off? Isn’t the donor now in for a life infinitely worse than the one who received the transplant?

What an incredible thing medicine has done for this man; I only hope the operation remains a success and has no rejection problems. After all he’s been through in his life, he deserves a chance for normalcy. God bless him and his surgeon and medical staff.

God bless this man and his surgeions and the medical staff. I wish him well and hope he can now live a normal life and find what he wants. What great things medicine is doing these days for people suffering from a myriad of physical problems and diseases. A great story.

Some people will always find a reason to be mean toward others. If any gene can be removed or destroyed it should be the most damaging gene of all - the “mean” gene.

What good is a story like this without pictures?????

Being French and living in France, I don’t know why we never heard about that story.
Maybe it’s too good news for our medias.
Anyway I agree with “cantjump cantspell”. The only examples of success we give to our kids (especially the ones coming from immigration) are the football players being payed millions to kick in a a ball. It is very sad.

PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT. VonRecklinghausen’s diease is also known as Nuerofibromatosis (NF) and can not be cured by just removing the tumors. It is a genetic disorder and thus will always be in the persons genes. There are two types of “NF”:
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on the covering of the nerves anywhere in the body at any time. The disorder affects 1 in 3,000 males and females of all races and ethnic groups. The NF-1 gene is located on chromosome 17. Symptoms could range from Visual Impairment/blindness, Seizures, Headaches, Brain Tumors, Brain Blood Vessel Defects, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Macrocephaly, High Blood Pressure, Freckling where skin meets skin, Early or delayed puberity, Pseudarthrosis and Bone deformities.
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF-2) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on the nerves of the central nervous system, in the brain, and on the spine. It affects one in 33,000-40,000 males and females of all races and ethnic groups. The NF-2 gene is located on chromosome 22. Symptoms include, Cataracts at a young age, Hearing loss or deafness, Spinal tumors, Meningioma, Bilateral Vestibular Schwannomas , Schwannomas of the peripheral nerves and skin tumors, Balance problems and general muscle wasting.

I was born with NF and have had over 64 major operations and numerous minor procedures. I had tumors growing on the arteries to my kidneys and had to have a double bypass to place artificial arteries as. (Tumors love to grow on scar tissue). I have a severe deformity to my fac and had to have my right eye removed due to Optic Glioma. I also have tibial displasia.

It is very hard trying to find doctors that will work with a patient with NF, at least I have found it to be. It is bad when you walk into a Doctors office and they tell you that there is nothing that they can do for you. I am not asking for a miracle, just treatment for the many problems that NF can cause.

A tremendous commentary on the capabilities and advances in surgical medicine. A terrific blessing for a new life anew. Only one suggestion for Mr. Coler— DON’T HAVE CHILDREN!! Rare or not, why chance passing on your genetic disease to your children, do you really want to take the chance that they may have to suffer what you suffered?! If you really want children– fine, ADOPT.

This man, described as having neurofibromatosis, should not be described as a modern day elephant man. Joseph Herrick, known as the “elephant man,” did not have neurofibromatosis, but had proteus syndrome, a completely different condition. To ascribe “elephant man” to this modern case is irresponsible. Please do better confirmatory research for your articles, or those you allow to be posted to this site - doing so makes your news agency appear ignorant.

I am also very disappointed that Fox News is propagating the myth that Joseph (John) Merrick (The Elephant Man) suffered from Neurofibromatosis (NF). As a second year medical student and a daughter of a person with NF, I feel that it is imperative that this misinformation is corrected. This label has left my affected family member with a stigma and poor self image since the diagnosis. I realize that this is a common misconception that I even needed to correct my pathology professor when we studied NF, but I feel that as a future physician and caring daughter it is my duty to educate my colleagues and the public about this distinction. I am appalled that after all of these comments the article remains uncorrected.

What a beautiful and inspiring story. True courage on the part of Pascal and his doctor. Blessings to all involved. I look forward to hearing all about his future wife and children!

My heart and my prayers go out to Joseph Harvey — may God grant you the desires of your heart. He’s still in the miracle business, my friend. You have touched hearts with your forthright posting and I wish you the best!

I am touched by the simple desires of this man. He wants to find love, be married, and have a family. I pray that the Lord satisfies these desires. I am glad for him.

I add my voice to those expressing disappointment of the reference to Elephant Man. Those of us with family members afflicted work hard to dispel the association between NF and the Elephant Man for a reason. The most ignorant among us say stupid things….you know how cruel kids can be in teasing. And then there are the so-called “news” organizations that do not check facts and need a sensationalized headline perpetuate this association. I emailed ABC and they took a while, but corrected it. Why even mention Elephant Man at this point when genetic research proves he did not have NF?

If you need pictures, go to ABC news website under the health category. It really is quite a remarkable transformation for this man and I am happy for him.

Thank you for a wonderfully inspiring story. Thru all the years of physical pain, and emotional adversity he was able to maintain a positive mental state, looking more toward what was good in his life than what was bad. I think he will succeed at whatever he endevors to do.

I am thankful there was a “miracle surgeon” with the courage and talent to help him. In an earlier age his surgery wouldn’t have been technically possible. And without his courage and positive outlook, it would have never been successful.

I hope he gets everything he ever wanted from life.

Best wishes for this man. He deserves all the joy he seeks!

Despite being repeatedly informed that this article is medically inaccurate, Fox “News” continues to display the sensationalized headline including “Elephant Man.” Shame on you. Shame. Shame.