Charla Nash, the woman attacked in February by a 200-pound pet chimpanzee belonging to a friend, appeared on yesterday's episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey traveled to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio to interview Nash, who initially appeared on camera wearing a hat and veil covering her face. "Charla will reveal her face to you on her terms, she wants to do that...in a way that she could have respect and dignity," said Winfrey.
Nash suffered massive and gruesome injuries to her face and hands when she was attacked by Travis, a pet chimpanzee belonging to her friend and employer Sandra Herold. A frantic 911 call from Herold during the attack describes the chimp as ripping her friend apart and eating her. The chimp was shot and killed by police. Miraculously, Nash survived the savage attack and has been recuperating at the Cleveland Clinic, renowned for having performed the first face transplant in the country.
"I'm getting stronger and healthier and I'd like to put across to people's minds that these exotic animals are very dangerous and they shouldn't be around," said Nash, explaining why she decided to speak to the Oprah Winfrey Show at this time.
While Nash survived the attack, she lost both her hands and eyes. Doctors were able to re-attach her tongue and one thumb to what remains of her right hand. She drinks her food through a straw and her face is badly deformed and swollen.
Learning that photographs of her face were very valuable to tabloids, Nash said she wanted to reveal her face on the Oprah Winfrey Show, which she did during the interview, taking off her hat and veil to reveal what she looks like now.
Nash says she cannot remember the attack, for which she is grateful. "I don't want to remember. I want to get healthy. I don't want to wake up with nightmares," Nash told Winfrey. Nash's favorite moments today are spent with her family, including her 17 year-old daughter, who is living with friends while finishing her senior year of high school. Nash's family is suing the chimp's owner for $50 million dollars.
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Comments
I saw the show with Charla Nash on Oprah. I had been crying all day because of my illnesses and financial situation that has gone from bad to worse. Then i saw Charla and my problems seemed so minute. This woderfully brave Lady took off her mask and my heart broke for her.The agony she suffered and is still suffering is so obvious. She will never have a normal life and she has lost so much.I hope she can get her face fixed and something done to her hands. She has lost her sight but to me she is beautiful. When you first see her you want to turn away, but I kept looking at this brave soul and wondered where she gets her courage.I hope she gets the 50,000,000 dollars and more. It won't bring back the way she was before but it can make her life much easier.God bless you Charla. To me you are a real inspiration.When will people leave wild animals in the wild?A strict law has to be put into effect so others won't suffer this fate!!!!And if the laws are not obeyed the re has to be punishmen
they ought to disfigure the ownwer of chimps and pitbulls a puinishment for stupidity
Charla you are a very courageous women. When I watched that show yesterday, I cried too. Her spirit and her will to live is just amazing. When you think of all the problems you have this is nothing compared to what she has endured and to be so graceful about it. God Bless Charla.
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