Chimp Victim Shows New Face in Public

A Connecticut woman brutally attacked by a chimpanzee 3 years ago says she's pleased that her face transplant isn't scaring people off. Venturing out in public these days, Charla Nash is regaining some sense of normalcy after undergoing triple transplant surgery for her hands and face, the New York Daily News reports. “I’ve had people tell me I’m beautiful,” Nash told Meredith Vieira on Today. “And they were not telling me I was beautiful before.” (See the video.)

“I looked like I’ve got eyes and everything," added Nash, who was permanently blinded by the assault. "I’m not scaring anybody.” But she also revealed the hardship of learning that her newly replaced hands had to be removed due to complications. “It didn't really bother me because I was too sick to worry about that, you know? … And then later on, I was disappointed." But she's hopeful that doctors can try again. Her daughter Briana said that "she looks similar. ... I’m still waiting for the underlying bone structure to take some shape on her cheeks. But it’s my mom." (More chimpanzees stories.)