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Xipe Totec

(43,890 posts)
Wed Feb 27, 2013, 10:21 PM Feb 2013

Vt. lye victim gets new face at Boston hospital

Source: Associated Press

Carmen Blandin Tarleton's face was unrecognizable after the lye attack, burned away in the frenzy of an estranged husband's rage.

Nearly six years later, the Vermont nurse is celebrating a gift that has given her a new image following a full facial transplant this month.

Doctors at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston said at a Wednesday news conference that the 44-year-old's surgery included transplanting a female donor's facial skin to Tarleton's neck, nose and lips, along with facial muscles, arteries and nerves.

...

Police previously said Rodgers believed his wife was seeing another man and went to her house to attack him. Tarleton mistook the intruder for a burglar at first and told him he could have whatever he wanted. Then Rodgers launched into a fury, fracturing one of Tarleton's eye sockets and breaking her arm with the bat.

He had brought lye with him in a squeeze bottle and he poured it on Tarleton.

When police arrived, the brunette's heart-shaped face already was distorted, her skin turning brown. She was trying to crawl into a shower to wash away the chemical.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/vt-lye-victim-gets-face-boston-hospital-142851289.html



I have no words to describe the revulsion I feel towards the monster who committed this heinous act.
17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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polly7

(20,582 posts)
3. God, that poor woman.
Wed Feb 27, 2013, 10:32 PM
Feb 2013

I hope this helps her to lead a full, happy life. How amazing too, they were able to restore sight to one eye. Agree, her husband is a monster.

derby378

(30,252 posts)
4. He'd just better hope he never gets out
Wed Feb 27, 2013, 10:51 PM
Feb 2013

What he did to that poor woman - God, I cannot fathom that level of brutality.

Beacool

(30,250 posts)
5. Poor woman!!!!!
Wed Feb 27, 2013, 10:57 PM
Feb 2013

She also lost her eyesight. I hope that her new face eases some of the pain and discomfort that she has lived with these past years.

I also hope that the husband rots in hell!!!

MH1

(17,600 posts)
6. I'm glad that she is being helped as much as possible, and has hope. But -
Wed Feb 27, 2013, 10:58 PM
Feb 2013

What kind of putrid vile scum can do this to another person?

The article says the f*ckwad is in prison for at least 30 years. This is where if I typed what I hope is happening to the sick piece of shit in prison, I'd get this post hidden for sure.


uppityperson

(115,677 posts)
7. Yay and good for her. I hope she heals quickly and well. ETA a link from her blog, sounds GREAT!
Wed Feb 27, 2013, 11:32 PM
Feb 2013

She has had so many surgeries already, best wishes.

http://www.overcomebook.com/my-face-has-changed-again-what-a-gift

My Face Has Changed Again – What a Gift!
By Carmen |Wednesday, February 27, 2013|
14 Comments
I could never have imagined the overwhelming feelings I encountered after my surgery. I could freely move my head from side to side without the usual scar discomfort I have felt for almost six years now. I cried with such a deep appreciation for the persons truly responsible for giving me this gift: this new physical freedom.
I am so grateful for all that have been watching over me with such tenderness and loving care. I know how truly blessed I am, and will have such a nice reflection in the mirror to remind myself what selfless really is.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- See more at: http://www.overcomebook.com/my-face-has-changed-again-what-a-gift#sthash.FjmoMe1w.dpuf

Journeyman

(15,036 posts)
8. Amusing, all the angry posts in this thread wishing her attacker the most vile punishment . . .
Thu Feb 28, 2013, 02:58 AM
Feb 2013

when Carmen Tarleton herself has forgiven him, and believes that only through this act can she salvage her own life:


Forgiveness is Freedom

By Carmen |Monday, December 10, 2012|

I did not realize how restricting it was, emotionally, the first three years after being injured, to not have forgiven Herb. I had never been faced with such a negative experience before and never understood how someone could forgive anyone for horrific actions. So when it was me, I did not know “how” to forgive. What should I do? Would this condone his behavior? I certainly did not want that.

After spending several quiet contemplation sessions alone and listening to Louise Hay say, ” Forgiveness is something you do for yourself”, I decided to give it a try. I talked to myself about the love Herb and I did feel for one another at the time our relationship was at its best. I thought about the pressure he must have put himself under to create such a destructive situation, how I could not change what was already done and then I remembered the feelings that I had, long before the event, that I could do so much more with my life than what I was doing.

If forgiveness could help me, than I would surrender the negative feelings I had for him and his choices and know that I could use it all for my benefit; to find my piece of heaven on earth.

The difficult feelings left me completely, never to return. The freedom in that is well worth shouting to all, ”Forgiveness is only about you!”

- See more at: http://www.overcomebook.com/forgiveness-is-freedom#sthash.pe8MfyHF.dpuf
 

cali

(114,904 posts)
10. there are exactly 2 posts that even approach what YOU claim
Thu Feb 28, 2013, 07:44 AM
Feb 2013

One says that she hopes the perp burns in hell and clearly that's not actually wishing him any harm.

But by all means, make shit up dearie.

 

RILib

(862 posts)
11. She has the right to forgive him
Thu Feb 28, 2013, 08:18 AM
Feb 2013

I have the right to say, thirty years in prison is not enough. He should be shut away forever.

Thank God they were able to restore her sight in one eye.

Xipe Totec

(43,890 posts)
12. Amusing is a very poor choice of words.
Thu Feb 28, 2013, 09:24 AM
Feb 2013

I think you meant to say incongruent.

Even so, your objection is overstated.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
13. We have nothing to forgive.
Thu Feb 28, 2013, 10:26 AM
Feb 2013

The injured person is the only one who is able to forgive because she is the only one who has been maliciously injured and suffered. Further, if you read what Carmen has written, which she learned from Louise Hay and from her own experience, the injured party is the only one who gains from forgiveness. She gains the freedom to move forward with her life and find inner peace and happiness, versus stewing in pain and bitterness.

Those of us who are helplessly observing are not the injured party; we have nothing to forgive. His actions have not harmed us in any way, other than the moments of horror we feel reading about his heinous, vicious act. And wishing this monster in human dress a good dose of karma kickback does not impair our lives. We can and will turn away from this article with a cautionary lesson -- be very careful who you choose to love -- continue on with our lives unimpeded.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
15. Well said. Forgiveness is a powerful tool indeed.
Thu Feb 28, 2013, 11:54 AM
Feb 2013

If we have been injured by someone, the act of forgiveness helps us discharge our emotional pain. That release is what makes healing possible. Holding onto the pain makes healing impossible.

Heywood J

(2,515 posts)
16. "Vermont lye victim" are words I thought I would never read together.
Fri Mar 1, 2013, 09:23 AM
Mar 2013

This is the kind of shit that I thought only happened in places like Pakistan. Atrocious. I just cannot believe that that happened here - my brain has actively rejected the concept.

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