Surgeons work to reconstruct man's face - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Doctors are working to rebuild a 22-year-old Oklahoma man's face after he suffered severe injuries in a fireworks accident.

Taron Pounds was lighting fireworks when one blew up in his face. He suffered facial injuries so severe that his mother could barely recognize him.

"His face was blown off. I mean the left side was peeled off and missing," said Tammy Cauthron, Taron's mother.

Pounds spent three weeks in a coma before getting transferred to the Oklahoma University Medical Center.

On Friday, two teams of OU Medical Center surgeons operated side by side on him for nearly 24 hours. One worked to repair the trauma to his facial bones and sinus cavities, the other used his leg bone and skin to rebuild his face.

"It's basically a transplant, like a kidney, only we are moving bone from one place to another," said Dr. Jose Sanclement.

The surgery was a success, but Dr. Trinitia Cannon says this is just one of several surgeries for Taron.

"We'll be working with him for the next six months to a year to help with that process," said Cannon.

Taron's parents are grateful to his medical team.

"How do you say thank you to somebody that saved your kid," said David Cauthron, Taron's stepfather.

Five days out of surgery, doctors say Pounds is recovering doing well. He may go home next week.

So far he has not been able to see out of his left eye, but doctors have not ruled that out.

In about two months, he'll face another round of surgery.