Press Releases

Devin Steinfort Nominated For His 2nd Patients of Courage Honor

Two years ago, our practice nominated Devin Steinfort for the Patients of Courage honor. As Devin, a suicide survivor, continues to share his story of winning the fight against depression with hundreds of teens in his home state, we feel he is deserving of a second nomination.

Devin's Journey as a Patient

Devin's journey as a patient began February 18, 2002, when he attempted to take his life with a 12 gauge shotgun to his face.

Dr. David Janssen of Fox Valley Plastic Surgery was called to the emergency room that evening to see a young 23 year old man who destroyed the anterior third of his chin, his lower and upper lips, his anterior maxilla and nose. His spent his first evening with Devin performing debridement and removing all visible gunpowder from his face, which Devin described as "feeling like hamburger."

Devin spent the next 2 1/2 months in the hospital, with Dr. Janssen obsessed in getting the parts of his face working, stabilizing the boney areas with pins and screws and covering open sections with muscle and tissue. Multiple surgical and reconstructive procedures were performed, including: mycutanueous flaps, fibular free tissue transfer to reconstruct his jaw, and pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps.

Devin's attempted suicide affected Dr. Janssen on a personal level; he had buried a friend who was successful in taking his life as a young adult. As a father, Dr. Janssen empathized with the family and was willing to be more than a surgeon for them. He was committed to helping this young man recover emotionally, because from his experience, about half of the patents who attempt to commit suicide go on later to complete the job. Dr. Janssen wanted to do what he could to make sure Devin would survive long after his body healed.

Devin's Journey as a Person of Courage

Four years and more than 14 surgeries later, Devin has done more than just survive. He has endured great physical and emotional pain, the result giving him the ability to tell the truth about suicide to those most prone to consider it.

Devin regularly gives talks with the suicide prevention organizations, specifically Community Hope's Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention program (www.communityhope.org). He has been successful in creating a chapter in rural Westfield, Wisconsin, providing local teens with a helpline. His ultimate goal is to reach as many teens as possible, as a recognized motivational speaker.

What the schools are discovering is that teens who won't listen to their parents and teachers are listening to Devin. He and his mother have presented to middle and high schools in Madison, Milwaukee and the Fox Valley. They recently presented to Westfield High School (Devin's hometown) after successfully convincing the conservative school to allow Devin to tell his story, graphic details and all.

Instead of hiding his injured and reconstructed face, Devin urges students to look and ask questions. Devin expresses his pain and journey to recovery on his body, with creative piercing and tattoos. He perfects his craft working at a local tattoo parlor. Dr. Janssen, friend and surgeon, recently photographed his newest creation, a large tattoo on his back symbolizing sadness and forgiveness. The photo resides with photographs of Devin's cosmetic and reconstructive progress.

Devin Steinfort has emerged from being in a downward spiral of depression to recognizing the gift of being alive and having a second chance - a second chance worthy of recognition by Patients of Courage.