At the age of 22, Noriss arrived home drunk and was arguing with his mother when he took a shotgun from his gun cabinet and told her he was going to shoot himself.
He racked a shell into the chamber and the gun went off. There was human flesh, bone and teeth on all four walls of Norris' bedroom and all over his mother.
But now, after undergoing one of the most complex face transplants in history, the 39-year-old has found love – but has had to learn how to kiss all over again.
Norris has found romance with 43-year-old Melanie Solis, from New Orleans, who got in touch with him by email after reading about his ordeal.
"I see Richard as having a beautiful, kind heart on the inside and a hottie on the outside, says Solis.
Here's hoping the lovely couple weather the storms of life together, giving us hope in the notion of true love and skin deep beauty!