Woman Given New Face In 15 Hour Facial Transplant Surgery

A Vermont woman left disfigured in an attack by her estranged husband has received a new face after a lengthy face transplant procedure performed earlier this month.

For only the fifth time, surgeons from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston gave hope to the battered woman left without a face.

Carmen Tarleton, 44, was at home with her two girls back in June 2007 when police say her then husband broke into her Vermont home and beat her with a baseball bat. Police said the man also squired industrial strength lye onto her arms, legs, back and face.

After 15 hours, the team of surgeons transplanted skin, muscles, arteries and nerves from a donor to her face.

Tarleton waited 14 months for the transplant, longer than any other face transplant patient, at the hospital.

She now has a long road to recovery.

Her sister, Kesstan Blandin, shared her words with the public Wednesday.

"My spirits are high, I feel really good and happy. This is a momentous opportunity in my life and I want to convey to the donor's family what a great gift they've given to me.

Tarleton's ex-husband will serve at least 30 years in prison for the attack. Tarleton herself has written a book about her experiences called "Overcome: Burned, Blinded and Blessed." Her new book is due out in March.