A doctor from Westchester Medical Center?s burn unit performed life-changing surgery on an Albanian woman who was severely burned on her face and neck when she was a child.

Flutra Doci, 30, is forever grateful to her surgeon, Dr. Michael Koch, who performed the $15,000 surgery for free.

Doci?s cousin Lindita Nezaj says that Doci was accidentally burned by hot oil on her face, arm and neck when she was a child, leaving permanent scars. Nezaj says she had always wanted to bring her cousin to America, because she had hope that someone would help her.

Her hopes came true when the women met Dr. Koch. The doctor says new technology using silicone and a skin graft makes scars practically disappear.

Thanks to Dr. Koch, Doci, who never used to leave the house without a scarf covering her scars, will be able to return to Albania a new woman. She has been recovering for three weeks and plans to return once her follow-up treatments are complete.