Charla Nash, 56, survived an attack by a 200-pound chimp that left her without eyes, a nose or mouth. The attack occurred on Feb. 16, 2008 when the chimp’s owner, Sandra Herold, asked Nash, her friend and employee, to help her lure the agitated chimp named Travis back inside the house.
Nash also lost her hands and her left arm below the elbow. Nash was aware that photographers were prowling outside the Cleveland Clinic where she continues to receive treatment after last year’s much-publicized attack by Travis.
So she invited Oprah and her crew to the clinic to reveal her disfigured face on her own terms.
Nash wears a veil when she goes on daily walks so she doesn’t startle anyone. She told Oprah she can’t breath through her nose and she eats through a straw.
“I don’t even think about it,” Charla Nash said on Wednesday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” ”And there’s no time for that anyways because I need to heal, you know, not look backwards.”
Doctors told Nash two weeks ago she would never see again because she lost both her eyes. She said she doesn’t remember the savage attack and doesn’t want to know about her injuries. “It’s like less for me to worry about if I don’t know,” she said.
Nash’s family has asked the Connecticut’s Office of Claims Commissioner for approval to file a $150 million lawsuit against the state for failing to protect her. But a Connecticut state biologist had warned Nash and Herold that the chimp could was dangerous.
An additional $50 million suit has been filed against the chimp’s owner citing negligence. Herold’s attorney, Robert Golger, said the attack was work-related and the case should be treated as a workers’ compensation claim.
Travis was shot and killed by police following the attack.
This is horrific!
This is horrific!
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That is an understatement! Dayum LAWD HAMMERCY…… I would rather go to tha upper-room!
wtf? is that the best modern medicine can do? dang ms rose, i was eating dinner..
kill me… f that
Oh my goodness I don’t know what to say but i sympathize with her ………..I wanna cry just looking at her because I can’t even imagine her pain and how she must feel…..I hopw she gets better and stronger and I hope she can feel comfortable in her skin…
However she did know the animal was dangerous but I wish her the best.
man. i would want somebody…to put me out of my misery.
prayers out to this brave woman.
hope=hopw
I’m hella mad!! My co-worker/friend JUST sent me this e-mail trying to get me to click on the link. I told her I was cool, because I did not want to see no gross $hit like that. Low and behold I come to my FAVORITE blog and damn you Sandra have that $hit posted for ALL to see. YUCCCCCCCCCCCCK!
This is distrubing, I dont know to look or turn away…. *rocking in the corner*
Wow just wow. I wish her all the best. I hope they can continue to work on her face to repair it some more.
That is one courageous woman
lol@ her trying to sue
I was just talking to hubby about this. My daughter called yesterday and said that Oprha was at The Cleveland Clinic to film this story and her roommate(childhood friend) got to meet Oprah and that the story would air tomorrow(today now). This story is horrible and does prove that we can’t domesticate some animals. This woman looks like a person from a third world country with a tumor on her face or a cleft lip that over grew. I wish her the best and I know she is at a great hospital for treatment. My daughter did her internship at this hospital and my sis-in-law had to go there a few times (while my daughters was there) for a brain injury. My sis-in-law is back home in our city but in most cases with ppl in distress they dom’t remember what caused their disgfigurment or trauma and that is not necessarily a bad thing. I thank Charla Nash for sharing her story and being brave. I wish and pray the best for her. I am so happy that she did survive and is so courageous.
I applaud Ms Nash for sharing her story because it took a lot of courage to do that..it truly a blessing that she is still here which means God still has something else for her to do I pray for her and her family’s strength..
I remember this story. When it broke…there was a story about another man who was attack…and he looks nuthing like this lady. I mean….there just aren’t any words. its 2009, and medicine is getting better. We just need to pray for the best for this woman.
matter a face some late just got a ‘face implant’ surely someone(dead) can donate their face to her….
This is horrible! It is probably a good thing that she lost her vision, cause if she could see what we all were looking at she wouldn’t be as calm as she is. God bless her heart! On the other hand, folks should let wild animals be just that–wild animals! Why were the “luring” that animal into the house? Smh!
I am watching Oprah now and my skin is crawling MY GOD BLESS HER HEART!!
I have so many questions but I just dont even know where to start wow just wow
Oprah has not missed a meal and her hair is thick and healthy!
I hope she had good health ins before this happened
Daisy Says:
Oprah has not missed a meal and her hair is thick and healthy!
I hope she had good health ins before this happened
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Oprah does not miss a meal and does not have shows talking about how much weight she has gained or lost but about her “real long hair”. I think that is her distraction about her weight gain because it use to be about her “thyroid”. and reason for gaining the weight. Now she has the “good hair” that is hers. Why/how after all these yrs. is it ok for her to constantly mention that her hair is hers, it’s because she really wants to give the focus off her weight gain.
Ms. Nash can sue the owner of the chimp on their home owners family liability policy and if the owner of the chimp was smart enough to get a PUP(personal unmbrella ) to kick in after the home owner/renters policy execces it’s limits Ms. Nash should not have to worry about her own (personal health policy).
it was a very inspiring interview. she was so upbeat and positive. her face was not as bad as i thought it would be. plastic surgeries take time and years and i think they will ultimately do more to her face to bring her “nose” and “chin” in line. it’s funny when oprah asked her about her daughter’s upcoming prom. she was like, i wish i could see her dress because i want it to be appropriate! i hope, with time, she is able to breath and eat hotdogs and pizza like she wants. this lady’s attitude and persona are amazing!!
Wow! That’s all I have to say!
Peace be still!!!
Are the only words that come to mind right now. I agree with the other posters who have stated that Ms. Nash is a courageous woman. Absolutely she is.
One could only hope they could remain in their right mind being burden with injuries of this nature.
Yet and still she goes on daily walks. And says
“I don’t even think about it,””And there’s no time for that anyways because I need to heal, you know, not look backwards.”…? That is a very resilient attitude.
How many of us would have rather died after seeing our face disformed to that degree?
Not being able to remember the attack is probally for the best and as Ms. Nash stated. It’s a lot less for her to worry about.
God Bless her and all things that surpass understanding for the greater good of his master plan.
Bless her heart… My heart really goes out to her… But God Knows people have to be more careful when dealing with WILD animals.. Again I say, WILD ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She is definintley in my prayers!
I do feel bad for this lady. But what should not be lost on anyone is the FACT that both of these broads were told (as if they really needed to be told) by State Wildlife folks that this animal was or had the capacity to be dangerous.
They even had video of where this chimp got loose from her car one time about a year before this attack and ran loose all over the streets.
I personally belive the owner had this chimp for “personal” purposes if you get my drift. In those videos she was treating ole boy like he was her boyfriend or something. I look at any broad sideways who has a bunch of dogs and peanut butter up in the house.
This chick (the owner) was is no different. Silly people.
This came on yesterday and I was just about to turn the channel thought to myself I can’t watch this Horrible.
But when I heard her speak, her bravery, her strength and she wasn’t at all bitter.
I was like damn this woman went through all this and I am too weak to listen to what she wants the world to hear.
So I watched it. Hopefully they will put more laws about keeping wild animals in domestic situations.
My thoughts and prayers got out to this woman. I wasn’t able to see the show, but from the pics and the SR family’s comments I can see it was very moving.
God Bless Her. Hopefully they can get her at least close to normal again. I know they have to do plastic surgery in stages sometimes, so hopefully over time they can help this poor woman. So sad.
1st things 1st….God bless this womanand her family and I hope she’s able to keep up her strength.
Secondly…A MONKEY DID THAT SHYT?? BUBBLES COUSIN??? Wow.
Thirdly… MIsta O.. I need to know.. why dogs and peanut butter?
And most importantly ( shout out to kanyes work out plan).. how the hail she talking with no mouf???
@ MistaO
That is true about the advice from the wildlife folks, plus I remember it was mentioned that the chimp got loose and I think they said it took hours to get him either in the car or back home.
I do believe the owner of “Travis” the chimp was gettin down with him. Homegirl was taking bubble baths with him, eating dinner with him, and whatever else.
I am very proud of Charla Nash’s bravery. God bless her.
@coaretained, she has a mouth and a “tongue” that they made from other tissue. she can only take liquids through a straw in her mouth but she can talk pretty understandably. that huge piece on her face is actually from her leg and is hiding her mouth. i think they will probably reshape it later.
@ free oh em gee. that is all.