Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Charla Nash Shows her New Face on NBC’s Today

The Connecticut woman Charla Nash’s reconstructive surgery may prove another milestone in the history of face transplant. Charla Nash was mauled by a 200 pound chimpanzee two years ago and NBC’s TODAY showed her pictures which were also released b Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston where she went under the face transplant surgery.

Two years after she was faced off by her friend’s pet chimpanzee, Charla Nash was on ‘Today’ revealing her new face on the Today Show. She was left without a nose, eyes and lips but she is showing promising results after country’s first face transplant surgery which gave her new nose to smell and lips to taste.
Talking to Today, Charla Nash said, “I’m beginning to feel my jaw and chin,” and though she was too weak to give a proper interview, she added, and I can move my mouth and smile. I still feel weak. But little by little I’m getting stronger.”
Charla Nash received her surgery in May when she was operated for a full face and double hand transplant and though her hands transplant did not go well due to complications.
Charla Nash’s daughter Brianna however showed her happiness in her mother’s progress and she explained, “I think she is impatient for recovery,” “Her speech is getting much better and she’s been getting up and starting to eat.”
Charla Nash’s first meal after getting her lips was eggs and cream cheese. Her face was quite similar to her previous face and skin tone though swollen.
Charla also showed her hope for getting her hands back adding, “Losing the new hands is just a bump in the road of my recovery,” “I believe that one day I’ll have two hands to help me live as a blind person with confidence.”

Charla’s face transplant which is the third full face transplant in the history of the United States is successful so far.
“I will now be able to do things I once took for granted. I will be able to smell,” she said. “I will be able to eat normally. I will no longer be disfigured. I will have lips and will speak clearly once again. I will be able to kiss and hug loved ones. I am tremendously grateful to the donor and her family.”
Let us see the new full face of Charla Nash but a smiling one…
Charla Nash
Charla Nash
Charla Nash
Charla Nash
Almost two years have passed since the tragic chimpanzee attack that left victim, Charla Nash, disfigured, blind, and barely clinging to life. In November of 2009, Nash, 57, was mauled by her friend, Sandra Herold's, pet chimpanzee. The animal mangled her face so severely, that she lost her eyes, nose and mouth. In addition, she lost both of her hands in the vicious attack.


The severity of her condition left those who were close to her with little hope. However, today, she revealed a new face to a promising life.



Charla Nash is the first person ever to receive a full face and hand transplant in the same surgery. Unfortunately, her hands had to be removed due to complications with pneumonia. The fact that blood was not circulating properly made it impossible for her new hands to thrive.

However, her face transplant was a success. After 20 grueling hours with a team of more than 30 doctors, Charla Nash was given a new face.


“I’m beginning to feel my jaw and chin,” Charla told TODAY. “And I can move my mouth and smile. I still feel weak. But little by little I’m getting stronger.”

Not only will her incredible face transplant greatly improve her appearance, but she will be able to do all the things that we often take for granted: smelling the fresh air, tasting her food, and simply breathing.

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