Falling In Love Again: Face-Transplant Donor's Daughter Meets Recipient

By Eyder Peralta

Published May 3, 2013 at 3:06 PM CDT

Carmen Blandin Tarleton of Thetford, Vermont, right, is embraced by Marinda Righter, daughter of face donor Cheryl Denelli-Righter, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass., on Wednesday.

If there's one conversation you listen to today, make it Melissa Block's talk with Carmen Blandin Tarleton and Marinda Righter.

Tarleton, who was disfigured when her estranged husband poured Lye over her body, received a face transplant in February. This week, for the first time, Tarleton met Righter, the daughter of the face donor.

Righter and Tarleton embraced and then Righter asked Tarleton if she could touch her face.

"It was probably one of the best feelings I've had in my life," Tarleton told Melissa.

"It was like falling in love all over again," Righter said.

We'll leave you with an excerpt of their conversation:

The rest of Melissa's interview will air on All Things Considered tonight. Click here to find your local NPR member station. We'll post the as-aired interview on this post, a little later tonight.