'Overcome: Burned, Blinded and Blessed' Author gets New Face after Transplant

Carmen Blandin Tarleton, the author of "Overcome: Burned Blinded and Blessed", has undergone a full face transplant and is now "happy and doing well."

In her memoir released recently, author and former transplant nurse Carmen Blandin Tarleton described the aftermath of being burned by lye, describing the incident as "one of the most horrific attacks a human being could suffer." Her now ex-husband Herbert Rodgers suspected Tarleton of having an affair and in a fight to detect the truth, first beat her with a baseball bat, putting out one of her eye sockets, and then squeezed a bottle of lye all over her. She was found by the police trying to crawl her way into the shower to wash off the liquid. However, by that time, the lye had burned off most of her face and she suffered 80 percent burns along with going blind.

Tarleton went through 50 surgeries until Wednesday when she underwent a full face transplant. The skin of a female donor was used to cover up her neck, nose, lips and cheeks. While the donor has requested to remain anonymous, in a statement Tarleton thanked her and her family for the "wonderful gift" which gives "selfless" a new meaning for her.

In Tarleton's book, she spoke about the "the best, and worst corners of the human heart." At that time, she was not aware that in a few months time she would be having a new face.

The 44-year-old took to her blog to thank everyone who helped her through her journey.

"I could never have imagined the overwhelming feelings I encountered after my surgery. I could freely move my head from side to side without the usual scar discomfort I have felt for almost six years now. I cried with such a deep appreciation for the persons truly responsible for giving me this gift: this new physical freedom. I am so grateful for all that have been watching over me with such tenderness and loving care. I know how truly blessed I am, and will have such a nice reflection in the mirror to remind myself what selfless really is. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

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