United States - In 2009, Charla Nash's face and hands were ripped off by a friend's 'pet' chimpanzee. Four years later, the 60-year-old woman describes her everyday struggles.
She can't remember the attacks which left her without eyes, nose, lips, and hands. However, she says she always felt uneasy about the fact that there's a 'pet' chimp is locked up in her friend's home.
Charla Nash, pictured, lost her eyes, nose, lips and hands in a brutal chimp attack in 2009
In 2011, surgeons 'sculpted' a new face for her and gave her glass eyes. A hand transplant was unsuccessful. Most recently, the woman was fitted with teeth that allow her to chew tougher foods and make her speech clear.
The 60-year-old says she has no independence at her Massachusetts nursing home, as none of her fellow residents or medical staff come near her.
Now her days consist of listening to audio books and walking the hallways of the nursing facility. She also practices facial expressions and is slowly getting used to her new teeth.
She hopes that one day she will be able to live at home instead of a facility. She also hopes her story would be a warning for others, and is working with advocates to encourage stronger laws restricting exotic animals.
Nash is pictured at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut in 2012
She can't remember the attacks which left her without eyes, nose, lips, and hands. However, she says she always felt uneasy about the fact that there's a 'pet' chimp is locked up in her friend's home.
"I remember looking at him in his cage and feeling sorry for him," she says. "My thoughts were, 'How is she allowed this animal in her house? What if he gets loose someday and somebody gets hurt?' I know the animals are cute - but they're just not pets."
Charla Nash, pictured, lost her eyes, nose, lips and hands in a brutal chimp attack in 2009
In 2011, surgeons 'sculpted' a new face for her and gave her glass eyes. A hand transplant was unsuccessful. Most recently, the woman was fitted with teeth that allow her to chew tougher foods and make her speech clear.
The 60-year-old says she has no independence at her Massachusetts nursing home, as none of her fellow residents or medical staff come near her.
"Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot I can do. I've lost so much independence... I could change my own truck tire, and now I can't even feed myself," the woman says.
"It's very hard to live. Not even live - half-live," Nash said. "Sometimes you want to cry, you want out, you want some kind of home. I don't know what my future is, that's the scary part."
An illustration, left, shows how Nash's face was damaged in the attack - she lost her eyes, nose and lips. But the transplant, right, gave her back these featuresNow her days consist of listening to audio books and walking the hallways of the nursing facility. She also practices facial expressions and is slowly getting used to her new teeth.
She hopes that one day she will be able to live at home instead of a facility. She also hopes her story would be a warning for others, and is working with advocates to encourage stronger laws restricting exotic animals.
Nash is pictured at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut in 2012
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