A Mississippi firefighter who suffered disfiguring burns to his face 14 years ago received a face transplant, thanks to a Brooklyn man.

Patrick Hardison received the donation from David Rodebaugh, a 26-year-old Brooklyn artist who died this summer after falling off his bike on Franklin Avenue.

Doctors at NYU's Langone Medical Center say the surgery was among the most complex face transplants performed. They say it took more than 100 medical personnel 26 hours to complete the surgery. They say there were several complications along the way, but that they still consider the transplant a huge success.

Rodebaugh's mother says she's glad that something beautiful could come from her son's tragic death.