Where Is Charla Nash Now? Her Story, Life Before And After Chimp Travis Attack
Charla Nash is a survivor of one of the most horrifying animal attacks in history. In 2009, she was brutally mauled by a 200-pound chimpanzee named Travis, who was kept as a pet by her longtime friend, Sandra Herold. The attack left Nash with devastating injuries, including the loss of her hands, nose, lips, eyelids, and most of her face. She also became permanently blind.
Since then, Nash has undergone multiple surgeries, including a rare double hand and face transplant, and has faced many challenges and hardships. But she has also shown remarkable courage and resilience and has not given up on her hope for a better life. This is her story, from her life before the attack to the tragic incident, to her recovery and current situation.
Life Before The Attack
Charla Nash was born in 1954 and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. She had a daughter, Briana, who was born in 1986. Nash worked as a tow truck dispatcher and bookkeeper for Sandra Herold, who owned a towing company and a pet chimpanzee named Travis.
Travis was born in 1995 in Missouri and was sold to the Herolds when he was three days old. He was raised as a human child, wearing clothes, eating at the table, drinking wine, watching TV, and even driving a car. He also appeared in several TV shows and commercials, and was well-known and loved in the town.
Nash knew Travis since he was a baby and often helped Herold take care of him. She considered him a friend and had no fear of him. She even posed for a photo with him when he was younger, smiling and holding his hand.
Charla Nash Wiki | BIO
| Name | Charla Nash |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 |
| Residence | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Former tow truck dispatcher and bookkeeper |
| Known for | Surviving a chimpanzee attack in 2009 |
| Injuries | Loss of face, hands, and vision |
| Surgeries | Double hand and face transplant in 2011 |
| Lawsuits | Sued Sandra Herold and the state of Connecticut for negligence and damages |
| Outcome | Received $4 million from Herold’s estate and $150,000 from the state |
The Attack
On February 16, 2009, Nash received a call from Herold, who asked her to come over and help her lure Travis back into the house. Travis had escaped from his cage and was roaming around the property, agitated and restless. Herold had given him Xanax, a tranquilizer, to calm him down, but it may have had the opposite effect.
Nash arrived at Herold’s home around 3:40 p.m. and got out of her car. As soon as she did, Travis attacked her, knocking her down and biting her face and hands. Herold tried to stop him, hitting him with a shovel and stabbing him with a butcher knife, but he was too strong and enraged. He ignored her commands and continued to maul Nash.
Herold called 911 and pleaded for help, saying that her “pet chimp” was killing her friend and that she needed a gun. The operator initially thought it was a prank call, but soon realized the gravity of the situation. Police officers arrived at the scene and found Nash lying on the ground, covered in blood and barely alive. Travis ran towards one of the police cars and smashed the window, trying to get inside. The officer shot him several times, killing him.
Nash was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent seven hours of surgery. She had lost more than 80% of her face, and her hands were severely damaged. She also suffered brain damage, a broken jaw, and a broken eye socket. She was put in a medically induced coma and given a slim chance of survival.
The Recovery
Miraculously, Nash survived the attack, but her life was changed forever. She had to undergo dozens of surgeries and procedures, including skin grafts, facial reconstruction, and a double hand and face transplant. She was the third person in the U.S. to receive a full face transplant, and the first to receive both a face and hand transplant at the same time.
The transplant surgery took place in 2011 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and lasted more than 20 hours. Nash received the face and hands of an anonymous donor who had died in a car accident. The surgery was initially successful, but Nash’s body rejected the hands, and they had to be removed. She was left with only a thumb on her left hand, and no fingers on her right hand.
Nash also had to cope with the loss of her vision, which made her dependent on others for her daily needs. She had to learn how to use a cane, a voice-activated phone, and a prosthetic hand that she could control with her muscles. She also had to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life, which had serious side effects and increased her risk of infections and cancers.
Despite these challenges, Nash did not lose her spirit or her sense of humor. She said she was grateful to be alive and to have a new face. She said she felt like she had been reborn, and that she wanted to do things that she had never done before, such as swimming, skiing, and riding a bike. She also said she wanted to meet the family of her donor and thank them for their generosity.
Nash also sued Sandra Herold and the state of Connecticut for negligence and failure to protect the public from a dangerous animal. She claimed that Herold knew that Travis was violent and unpredictable, and that she had given him drugs and alcohol that made him more aggressive. She also claimed that the state had ignored previous complaints and warnings about Travis, and that they should have confiscated him or enforced stricter regulations on exotic pets.
Herold died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in 2010, before the lawsuit was settled. Nash received $4 million from Herold’s estate, but it was not enough to cover her medical expenses and care. She also received $150,000 from the state, but it was far less than the $150 million she had sought. She appealed the decision, but it was rejected by the state Supreme Court in 2016.
What is Charla Nash doing now?
Charla Nash is now 67 years old and lives in a nursing home outside of Boston. She still requires constant care and supervision, and she faces many health problems and complications. She has had several infections, surgeries, and hospitalizations, and she has developed skin cancer on her face. She also suffers from chronic pain, depression, and PTSD.
Nash says she misses her old life and her independence, and that she feels lonely and isolated. She says she has few friends and visitors, and that she rarely goes out. She says she wishes she could see her daughter, who is now 35 and lives in Connecticut, and her grandchildren, who she has never met. She says she loves them and hopes they are proud of her.
Nash says she still loves animals, but she does not think that chimpanzees should be kept as pets. She says they are wild and unpredictable, and that they belong in their natural habitat. She says she hopes that her story will raise awareness and prevent similar attacks from happening in the future.
Nash says she still has dreams and goals, and that she tries to stay positive and optimistic. She says she wants to write a book about her life and her experience, and that she wants to help other people who have suffered from trauma and disfigurement. She says she wants to make a difference and inspire others with her courage and resilience.
Nash says she is not angry or bitter, and that she has forgiven Travis and Herold. She says she believes that everything happens for a reason, and that God has a plan for her. She says she is thankful for the support and kindness of her doctors, nurses, therapists, lawyers, and strangers. She says she is a fighter and a survivor, and that she will never give up.
Content Source: wikipedia.org/Travis_(chimpanzee)
