Patrick Hardison received a new face after third-degree burns, this is him today

Jimmy Neal, a close friend and one of the first responders at the scene, told CBS News that he had never seen burns so severe on someone who was still alive.

Patrick sustained third-degree burns to his face and scalp, along with serious injuries to his head, neck, and upper torso. The fire destroyed his ears, lips, much of his nose, and most of his eyelid tissue.

“I didn’t actually see myself until November—I was injured in September,” Patrick told Fox News. “They cut a tiny opening in one eyelid so I could look in the mirror. When I saw myself, all I could think was, ‘This is it? I can’t live like this.’”

Over the following years, Patrick endured more than 70 surgeries and countless medical procedures. Because he couldn’t close his eyes, doctors created skin flaps to protect his vision, yet the risk of blindness remained constant.

Eating was painful. Looking in the mirror was unbearable. Wherever he went, people stared. Social situations became overwhelming—even time with his own children was difficult.

To shield himself, Patrick wore sunglasses and a baseball cap at all times and relied on ear prosthetics.

“I had kids, and it was incredibly hard,” he told Yahoo! Sports. “There was no break from the injury. Every time you went out in public, you had to brace yourself.”