In 2009, Charla Nash, 57, was mauled by a friend's 200-pound pet chimpanzee in Stamford, Conn., and lost her eyelids, nose, lips and hands in the incident.

Nash, who was unable to see, smell and speak properly, recently underwent a 20-hour face transplant surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass.

"My journey to recovery continued at Brigham and Women's Hospital... Here the medical team, led by Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, prepared me for a face transplant and a double hand transplant. My surgery was successfully completed a few months ago," Nash said in a 'first-ever' statement released by the hospital.

With a renewed spirit, Nash said she is looking forward to doing things she once took for granted such as smelling, eating normally, speaking clearly and kissing loved ones.

See what Nash looks like after her surgery.

Chimp-Mauled Woman receives full Face Transplant Video Photos
Face transplant recipient Charla Nash is pictured after her injury, in this undated photograph released on June 10, 2011. Nash, who was mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009, has received a full face transplant, the third surgery of its kind performed in the United States, Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital said on Friday. REUTERS
Face transplant recipient Charla Nash, of Stamford,
Face transplant recipient Charla Nash, of Stamford, Connecticut, is pictured after her surgery in this photograph released on August 11, 2011. REUTERS
Charla Nash
Charla Nash received a successful face transplant at Brigham and Women's Hospital in May. Reuters
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