He Lost Half His Face—Now a Groundbreaking Surgery Gave Him a Second Chance

A Michigan man who developed a rare form of cancer and lost half of his face to the disease is now getting a second chance at life, thanks to a surgeon helping rebuild his features using tissue taken from his leg and forearm.

Tim McGrath is speaking publicly for the first time about his three-year battle in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, and he also explains why he’s glad his story has gone viral.

After McGrath began experiencing jaw discomfort in February 2014, he visited his primary doctor, who made an initial diagnosis of synovial sarcoma.

McGrath recalls, “I had a biopsy, and because the sample was so unusual, it was sent to a specialized lab for analysis.” At first, doctors thought it might be a pituitary tumor, which is typically benign. “Unfortunately,” he adds, “I have some bad news.”

The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative reports that only about 1 to 3 out of every million people are diagnosed with the condition each year. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that affects soft tissue and most commonly appears in the legs or neck.

Once he understood how invasive surgery would be to remove the tumor, McGrath initially looked for non-surgical alternatives.

“I hated hospitals, and I was very health-conscious before the diagnosis,” McGrath says. “I felt like I had the discipline to pursue other options.”

The naturopathic approaches he tried included a strict diet, a supplement regimen, energy therapy, and psychological counseling. But over the next 18 months, the tumor kept growing. By mid-May 2015, McGrath was forced to undergo a tracheotomy and have a feeding tube placed.

When chemotherapy failed, his doctors switched to radiation, which finally produced results—the tumor began to shrink. In October 2015, after it had reduced in size, surgeons spent about 30 hours removing what remained.

“Before surgery, I was told the worst-case scenario was losing most or all of my jaw, along with my eye and ear,” McGrath says. “But the tumor had shrunk so much that I thought it would be a quick procedure, that I wouldn’t lose my eye or ear, and that I’d be eating again soon.”

When McGrath woke up, he realized “the worst-case scenario” had come true.

Although reconstruction of his bone structure was part of the plan, his body rejected the initial attempts. Scarring from earlier procedures further limited his options for reconstructive surgery, leaving him with exposed tissue.

In April of the previous year, McGrath decided to change surgeons. He went to Dr. Kongkrit Chaiyasate, who rebuilt McGrath’s face using skin and muscle from his left leg and left forearm, along with a flap taken from his forehead. Chaiyasate has performed five procedures on McGrath, and none have failed.

“He has been an incredible blessing for our family,” McGrath says. “He’s done five operations on my face, and the transformation has been truly remarkable.”

Now cancer-free, McGrath will spend the next year regaining strength in preparation for completing the reconstruction in the winter of 2018.

“At this point, Dr. Chaiyasate recognizes how much stress my body has been through,” McGrath says. “He wants everything to rest and heal over the next year. He wants me to live life to the fullest and take advantage of every opportunity.”

McGrath is now focused on improving his ability to speak more clearly, sip liquids by mouth, and eventually eat through his mouth again.

He says his family has been his strongest support system. His “mom became my at-home nurse for wound changes, IVs, feedings, and so much more,” and his father has “been by my side from the very beginning.”

“We were close before, but we’ve grown even closer through this journey,” he writes, also praising his three siblings and friends. “This experience has brought us closer together. My friends continue to amaze me—with fundraisers, websites, and the way they’re always checking in.”

McGrath admits it took time to find the courage to share his story. “I didn’t want to be reminded of everything I had to go through,” he says, adding that today he focuses on how the ordeal has reshaped his outlook.

“Going through this taught me I’m so much more than my exterior,” McGrath says. “I’m so much more than my appearance. I hope my story encourages people to be grateful every day that they’re healthy and able to enjoy the simple things life offers.”

He adds, “I’m not someone who likes being in the spotlight, but I knew my story needed to be told. Everything I’ve been through has been worth it, because sharing my experience can save lives, change lives, and inspire love.”