ANN CURRY, co-host:
Back now at 8:10 with the latest chapter in
Charla Nash
's amazing recovery. In May, she underwent a groundbreaking facial transplant, more than two years after being attacked and nearly killed by a friend's chimpanzee. We're about to see
Charla
's new face for the very first time. And while some of the images you may be seeing now, may be disturbing, the transformation really is remarkable.
NBC
's
Jeff Rossen
is now joining us with the story. Hey, Jeff.
JEFF ROSSEN reporting:
Hi, Ann. Good morning.
Charla Nash
was attacked right up this driveway behind me, and it was violent.
Travis
the
Chimp
, ripped off her face and her
hands
. Her mere survival, a medical miracle. But turns out, that wouldn't be the only miracle. Two and a half years later, countless surgeries later,
Charla Nash
has a new face. And this morning, you're about to see it
for the first time
. The transformation has been difficult to watch, from beautiful, vibrant mother to helpless victim, disfigured and unrecognizable. After the attack,
Charla Nash
wore a veil to cover herself.
Travis
the
Chimp
came at her with such force,
Charla
never stood a chance.
Chimpanzee Owner:
He's killing my friend!
911 Operator:
Who's killing your friend?
Chimpanzee Owner:
My chimp! My chimpanzee!
ROSSEN:
The chimp took off
Charla
's nose, mouth, and
hands
and left her permanently blind. Doctors saved her life, but wouldn't stop there. Attempting the country's first ever, double-hand and face transplants.
Charla
spoke with
NBC News
just weeks before her life-changing operation.
Ms. CHARLA NASH:
Getting my face and
hands
together. That would be nice.
All in one
. Being able to do everything on my own.
ROSSEN:
These are the first images of
Charla
's new face, revealed this morning
for the first time
. Her brother and teenage daughter,
Briana
, were at the hospital when the bandages came off. And the progress is stunning. This photo was taken just after the surgery, two months ago. And this is
Charla
today. The swelling has gone down and her new face has molded to her bone structure.
Ms. BRIANA NASH (Charla Nash's Daughter):
Well, I think she's pretty impatient as to recovery. But she's recovering very well. She -- her speech is getting much better. She's been getting up, and she's starting to eat.
ROSSEN:
Charla
is still too weak to give an interview, but told us, "I'm beginning to feel my jaw and chin, and I can move my mouth and smile."
Ms. NASH:
Can she smell yet?
Dr. BOHDAN POMAHAC (Brigham and Women's Hospital):
Yeah, yeah.
Ms. NASH:
Really?
Dr. POMAHAC:
Yeah. Can you smell
Charlie
? Yeah.
Ms. NASH:
Wow.
ROSSEN:
Charla
is also breathing on her own now. And remember, she hasn't eaten solid food since the attack. Her first meal with her new face? Eggs with cream cheese. "I still feel weak,"
Charla
told us, "but, little by little, I'm getting stronger."
Dr. POMAHAC:
Charla
has been doing very well. She has met all her milestones so far and has been stronger everyday both mentally and physically.
ROSSEN:
The surgery took more than a dozen doctors and lasted 20 hours. There were complications, though, after the operation. And
Charla
's new
hands
had to be removed. But her new face took and has already changed her life. Today,
Charla
is in intensive therapy and,
for the first time
since the attack, she's able to do things that most of us take for granted -- eating, talking, smelling. Doctors aren't exactly sure when she'll have full function back in her face. It all depends on her progress, but so far they like what they see. And for
Charla
's family, there's new hope after years of such pain.
Ann:
Jeff Rossen
,
thank you so much
.
Charla
's brother,
Steve
, and her daughter,
Briana
, are now joining us exclusively. Good morning to both of you.
CURRY:
Good morning.
Ms. NASH:
A miracle? What other words would you use?
CURRY:
Just, wow.
Ms. NASH:
You've been watching her face form over this period of time. The last time we talked to you, she was in
ICU
. What has it been like to see her emerge again?
CURRY:
It's just good to see the rapid progress and just the happiness that wasn't there before. New hope has been sparked, and it's just so nice to just see her ready to get at it again.
Ms. NASH:
Yeah. What about for you,
Steve
?
CURRY:
Well, initially, after the operation, she was quite sick. So I was there like for two weeks, and I don't know if she even said ten words to me during that time. And so, from that point and then now, we're -- they interviewed her this morning, and they got her to talk. They, you know, they mentioned her statements and everything. And her optimism is, you know, back again. And so, we're quite ecstatic.
Mr. STEVE NASH:
The idea that now there is the possibility, the beginnings of her own ability to smile. I see you smiling,
Steve
, and you,
Briana
, just thinking about that. What does that mean to your family? What does that mean to
Charla
?
CURRY:
Just for her to make an expression, something that we've had to take from her words before, it's just nice that she -- her body language can express how she feels.
Ms. NASH:
She's hitting all the milestones, doctors say, breathing on her own, smelling, eating solid food. It really is amazing. At the same time, she has faced such a -- one grueling challenge after the other. And shortly after the surgery, she had to have both
hands
removed because of the complications. So how -- what would you have to say about her resiliency?
CURRY:
Well, first, I want to mention that the
hands
, they were a successful transplant. It was complications with pneumonia that made it so they didn't -- the doctors say they didn't thrive. And, of course, there was no circulation to the
hands
, or not enough circulation, so -- but, and I forgot your question.
Mr. NASH:
She wants independence.
CURRY:
Oh, yeah.
Mr. NASH:
And so it's got to hurt not to have those
hands
for her emotionally. It's got to hurt emotionally. So how has she stayed strong?
CURRY:
All she said is, you know, just like with the attack, that we're going to start from this point and look forward, you know. And we're very optimistic that the face thrived and just
looking forward
to the next attempt at the transplant.
Mr. NASH:
So there will be another effort to transplant her
hands
? Are there many more surgeries planned? What is the future,
Briana
?
CURRY:
I'm not really sure. I know for now we're just worrying about getting her strength back and just in general, just getting her back on her feet and used to her face. And just worrying about the stuff in the process.
Ms. NASH:
You don't know who donated so that your mother could have her face.
CURRY:
No, but I just...
Ms. NASH:
What would you say
to that person's family?
CURRY:
Just that what they've done for us is just so amazing. And just, I'm so thankful, and it's just really given my mom the hope to move forward and a chance at a life again.
Ms. NASH:
You want to encourage other people to donate if they can?
CURRY:
Right. I think this is a good opportunity to mention to people that they should prepare for that event now while their loved ones can express their opinions on what they want to do. And it's just modern science moving forward, you know. But if they do consult with their loved ones, they'll know their feelings and make an educated decision.
Mr. NASH:
Well,
Steve Nash
, we're so happy to see your family moving forward.
Briana
, look at you smiling. There you are.
Briana
, thanks for being here. It's been great, and our best. Please hug
Charla
for us.
CURRY:
Of course.
Ms. NASH:
And we're back right after this.
CURRY:
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