Joe's injury

Joe is reportedly completely injured from head to... well torso. He has lost his face (including eyes, mouth, nose, and ears), his arms, and his legs. This not only heavily affect his physical being, but also his mental being. How can you even consider yourself to be alive if you can talk, move, or communicate with any person. This is one of the thoughts that plagues Joe's mind throughout the first part of the book as he progresses along and tries to live with his injuries.