Charla Nash appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey” show Wednesday to reveal the damage done to her face after a horrific chimpanzee attack.
Nash is speaking publicly for the first time since she was attacked by her friend’s chimpanzee Travis in February 2009.
The 55-year-old had never revealed her face to the public until that point.
On February 16 this year Nash, 56, went to a friends house to help her get her pet chimp, Travis, inside after he had escaped.
Upon finding him Travis savagely attacked Nash leaving her in critical condition.
Nash has lost her nose an eyelid, lips and both hands during the attack. Due to an infection, doctors had to remove Charla’s eyes.
Currently Charla is still living in a hospital, when she moves around, she wears a veil over her face so that she does not scare people
Travis was shot by police following the attack.
According to Wikipedia, Travis’s head was taken too a laboratory for a rabies test and the body was taken to the University of Connecticut for a necropsy.[The body tested negative for rabies,but a Connecticut professor found the presence of Xanax in its system. Autopsy results in May 2009 confirmed the chimp was overweight and had been stabbed. The remains were cremated at All Pets Crematory in Stamford on February 25, 2009.
The Nash family is suing Sandra Herold, the owner of the chimp for $50-million.
Charla Nash Speaks To Oprah About Chimp Attack: Before After Pictures
This woman just proves that beauty is within us. I have never before experienced such a courageous human being. I will forever keep her in my prayers. I will pray that her courage is spread throughout the world as well as her kindness and strength. Namaste Charla Nash.
very sad thing to have happened. very sweet woman. but i have to ask. why do people want to keep wild animals anywhwere but whwere they belong, in the wild or a zoo. it should be against the law.
I HATE MONKEYS!!!
I cannot even begin to say how incredibly brave this woman must be! Way to go, Oprah, for telling her how horrible her face looks when she didn’t really know in the first place. :-/ And I cannot express how incredibly tacky it is for someone to use her name and write, “I hate monkeys.” Shame on you.
Carla is a brave woman. I am curious as to what has become of the woman who owned the Chimp? She, alone- should be responsible for all medical bills Carla has incurred.
I hope she is able to find eye donors and a face implant, or atleast some sort of improvement towards her condition.
wow an amazing lady. to be hurt so much and have so much taken away but still be happy and open and okay about the whole situation is incredible. she cares about her daughters prom and wants the best for her, she is an amazing woman and a great mother. best wishes
To the person who posted the ‘Carla Nash’ comment- “I Hate Monekys” -Your Karma will soon bite you in the ass!!! You have seen better days…..
the owner should be put in jail for having the chimp as a pet in the first place. chimps are wild they are not meant for t.v commercials and they are not meant to be tamed just so someone can have a companion. that woman Charla was so beautiful and still is. Clearly nothing will stop someone so strong willed. I hope you heal well and fast.
vickie animals shouldnot be kept in zoos like you said
Stay strong Charla <3.
That Damn Monkey…
This just brought me to tears. Regardless, this woman did NOT deserve this and it could have happened to any of us !! We ONCE wanted a chimp as a pet…No Longer!! The State/Government/Whomever needs to step in and STOP such animals as being domestic pets, no matter who it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just look at her now..compared to her pictures before, I feel so sorry for her and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do for her at no amount of money !!
Marks as nice as it would be for Carla to be able to see again dont you think they would have tried that right off the bat… she will never see again… the damage was far too great and most likly damaged her optic nerve therefore she would not be able to see.
I dont think she needs plastic surgery… if people are going to laugh and stare at her it is only because of their own insecurities. She is an amazing woman and for her to be this strong and continue to think only of her daughter is incredibly unselfish.
Charla your an insiration as a woman!!
I feel so sad for this woman and I hope that with time her treatment impoves. Why do people want to have wild animals in their homes? It is just like owning a tiger or lion. They are meant to be in their habitat, not in our homes.
People will never learn and I hope that the woman who owned the chimp, feels sorrow for what has happened.
This poor woman, Mrs. Nash, now has lost her vision.
It is one thing to have your nose and jaw removed, but at least to have vision left is something we al should have. No, now she is faced to live out the rest of her life this way and it is not fare.
I hope that she finds peace.
It is terible if people begin to make fun of her face.
Those who laugh, should have their faces ripped off, just the same, and even worse.
My warm thoughts are with Charla.
People confused “pets” and “animals”. Pets like cats and dogs are domesticated for THOUSANDS of years (cats 9000 years, dogs 15000 years), but even so dogs/cats can also be dangerous if the owners do not manage them properly. The fault is with the owner of the chimp — obviously she shouldn’t have kept that animal around.
Charla after watching the Oprah Show my heart goes out to you and your family. I will keep you in my prayers. May you and your family stay strong, you are a beautiful,inspiring, God gifted woman. God Bless you forever…
She looks like she ate a sour candy.
This woman is brave beyond belief. She is an inspiration to everyone. To the idiot using her name. It is and ape not a monkey. You moron.
This woman is brave beyond belief. She is an inspiration to everyone. To the idiot using her name. It is an ape not a monkey. You moron.
I feel so sorry for you and your daughter my prayers go out to you and your family stay strong charla i wish i could meet you and give you a big hug.
Incredible attitude to have gone thru what she has
Charla, The fact that after this tragic accident one of the first things that comes to your mind is your daughter’s prom and not anger toward your friend is an inspiration and an example of how strong and brave and beautiful you are inside and out. Your daughter is just as much an inspiration as you are to be able to look past what was done to you by a careless act and be there for you. Blessed be to you and your family.
This is so sad, no one deserves this no one! It could have happened to anyone,
I hope things get better for her 
Please do not make fun
godblessyoukeptonbeingstrong
That is hekka mest up to happen to a sweet sweet person so sad stupid retarded ass chimpanzee thaey should be thrown to Jupiter
I truly wish Charla would be able to read the positive comments that were posted before mine. Your courage and forgiveness are true reflections of beauty, regardless of your appearance.
Hate wont help.. Prayers and support will. My prayers and well wishes out to this courageous and compassionate human being. I also wish i be blessed with her inner beauty. God bless u Charla Nash.
ink drinker you’re a jackass…”she looks like she a sour candy” that is just pathetic on your part. this poor woman has suffered a lot and you’re just adding insult to injury. i admire her, her bravery and strength through her struggle and battle are not only inspirational but also signifies the inner strength everyone needs to seek within themselves.
Hearing this story reminded me of the strength people find within themselves under extraordinary circumstances. I wish the best for Charla and her family.
Wow, I imagined it bad, but not this bad. I will never understand why things like this have to happen in a world created by God.
Ignorant, I know, just being honest. Good news is she never has to buy another Halloween costume.
Ever!
Veracity, you are a horrible person for saying that.
Why are some people writing smartass, obnoxious comments?
I was touched by Charla’s bravery though all of this. My heart goes out to her. I think that person who owned the chimp should face criminal charges.
Chimps are wild animals. They’re also incredibly strong and can go berzerk without any notice. They’re not these cuddly goofy monkeys. They can actually be quite dangerous.
And here I was feeling sorry for myself for my parents’ recent deaths and separation from my children. Ms. Nash has been brave and our prayers go up for her and her family.
What an amazing woman. So sweet, brave and courageous. Words cannot express how moved I am by her strength of spirit through all this.
I only pray that she is able to receive the hands and face transplant that she desires.
wow…what an inspiration. i cannot believe what this woman has been through. my heart and prayers go out to that family. how are people able to be so inhumane to place some of these comments. its just horrible. i do blame the owner of the chimp and think there should be charges of some sort but my heart goes out to her as well at the same time, i’m sure it’s not what she ever expected and i couldn’t imagine living with what was done to a friend if that were my animal.
-”Verasity”,
You will get what you deserve for your comment, no person should ever have to suffer and be put through humilation. She is a brave woman who deserves life. Let her be in everyones prayer. Stay strong Charla!
re malaka, hey ink drinker eff you. You have no right for that comment. obviously you have no life, but to discriminate and judge people. The poor women was attacked by a chimpanzee. Give her a break. Gosh, haveyou no soul!!???
i feal really sorry about what happened to charla nash and hpoe that someone can do something to help her because she is a good person.
Charla is an amazing woman! im so sorry that this has happened to her, dont laugh or make fun because that could have been you, i admire her bravery, and will to live pretty much everything about her is amazing! & for the woman owning the chimp- i know you never meant for this to happen its a tragety and im so sorry that you lost your pet and how it was killed brutally i hope you dont face criminal charges my heart is with you charla nash and sandra harold
Wow, ok first of all, Veracity yea its called karma, that is just an ubelievable thing you said. And second of all she didn’t deseverve that. But I think that its great that she can still talk and hear. I give my best wishes to her&&her family in hope they all can go throughout life with no more trauma! :]
Okay first of all Karma is a senseless theory used by those who always get short ended. Second of all I keep seeing a bunch of people saying I can’t believe she’s still friends with the chimp owner. Ya, bullshit considering shes suing the owner for 50 million dollars(the owners net worth is something like 10 million). So all this shes accepting what happened BS, is just that, BS. Third of all she probably gives a mean gummer.
Wow I cant believe what a jackass some people are. First of all, inkdrinker, your names stupid and your mean. So you can go screw yourself
Okay…first off I want to say…come on with the comments man, it is horrible what happened to this woman. Yes, it was ridiculous to have a chimp as a pet , but her life is forever changed. I don’t blame her for suing the owner and the owner shouldn’t either. But for real..making jokes about her appearance is low and inappropriate. Be better people please:-)
Tori, if only you understood my name. And guess what, the world is a mean mean place. You continue living in your little hapless existence while in the time it took to write this paragraph 78 children under the age of 5 died of starvation. Hell maybe you should pay attention to all the mean mean things that happen in this world develop a severe depression and do us all a favor and take a bath with a toaster.
Monkeys certainly are a frightening breed all right. Never liked ‘em myself. Don’t trust ‘em. Scary bastards. They are like dirty little ill-mannered people.
yo the person who wrote the i hate monkeys thing is incredibly childish n im 16 im hoping that wasnt n adult!!butr god bless charla nash
ink drinker for real u call uther ppl childish but ur the main 1 actn like a 12yr old u r so ignorant u need 2 do us all a favor n find a life because u came on this thing like 12 times 2 put down uther ppl and charla nash.NO LIFE!!!!
Daaang i would sue for whole lot more than that!!!!
LOL Inkdrinker, from YTMND to eCanadaNow! What an amazing and excellent transition. God bless you and the happiness you inject into my veins.
brii lik omgz! u make a poynt wen u tipe lik a moron! Where do you get off saying someone is acting like a 12 year old when you type , have an understanding of international politics, and an understanding of common sense like a 12 year old? I can’t believe the pity you morons have for her! You all must of cried when Steven Irwin stuck his thumb up a sting rays butt-hole, crikey! Furthermore I can’t believe you people are surprised that a wild animal, yes a wild animal(especially like the one in question was, Travis they called him, was pumped up on all the wrong pills from the local vet) attacks someone. I want all you to do me a favor, go play with a lion, a whole pride of them. Give evolution a fighting chance and leave the safety of your homes and play in a cage filled with lions!