It all began with a childhood case of chicken pox, according to Keenan’s mother, Madeline. He was left with a small scar on his face. A doctor removed that scar, but what followed was something no one expected. The area where the scar once was began to swell and grow. Soon, a keloid formed. And then another. And another.

“Every time that I had them removed, they grew back so much more enormous and grotesque,” Keenan recalls. With each attempt to treat them, the keloids returned larger, heavier, and more aggressive than before.

As the keloids spread across both sides of Keenan’s face, daily life became a struggle. He grew deeply self-conscious in public. Sleeping comfortably was almost impossible because any pressure against the keloids caused sharp pain. At times they bled, and other times they leaked pus, forcing him to carry a towel everywhere he went. It was exhausting physically, emotionally, and socially.

In 2015, Keenan shared his story on The Doctors, hoping that opening up would help others understand what people with severe keloids endure. His bravery caught the attention of Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Michael Jones, who recognized immediately how complex the case was. Dr. Jones volunteered to treat Keenan and began planning an intricate, multi-step surgical approach.

Keloids like Keenan’s run deeper than what is visible on the surface. They were anchored in a thick, continuous sheet of scar tissue beneath his skin, tightly attached and dangerously close to facial nerves. Dr. Jones performed two surgeries, one on each side of Keenan’s face. It was more involved than anyone anticipated, but he proceeded with care and precision.

When the final surgery was complete, Dr. Jones delivered the words Madeline will never forget: “Everything went great. The keloid is gone.” For the first time in years, Keenan saw his face without the overwhelming burden of scar tissue.

The transformation was not just physical. He regained comfort. He regained peace. He regained parts of his identity that had been overshadowed by pain and fear.

And new chapters began to unfold. “I will say this, not to break any ladies’ hearts or anything, but I’m newly engaged,” Keenan shared after his recovery. “I can honestly say that the person I’m engaged to saw me for me. She didn’t look at what I looked like on the outside. She looked at my heart.”

Keenan’s journey captures exactly why Operation Keloid exists: to help people reclaim their lives, their confidence, and their future with access to specialized, compassionate care.