Health

Charla Nash, Chimp Attack Victim, Released From Rehab

by Amy Judd | May 7, 2010 at 10:50 am

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Charla Nash Has Left the Cleveland Clinic After 2009 Attack

Charla Nash was the victim of a vicious attack last year by a chimp named Travis, who belonged to her friend and employer Sandra Herold. She had to undergo massive reconstructive surgery and appeared on Oprah last November to reveal her new appearance.

She was cleared to leave the Cleveland Clinic and will be transferred to an assisted living center in Boston, where she will continue to have therapy and heal according to ABCNews.com.

She flew by private plane on Thursday to the Boston assisted living center and there she will receive therapy in the hopes that one day she will be able to move out and live on her own again.

The Cleveland Clinic released a statement about Charla's recovery after the vicious attack:

Ms. Charla Nash has made great progress in her recovery. She is doing well and has been discharged from the Cleveland Clinic," the hospital said in a statement. "Throughout her stay she has touched the lives of many of our employees; we wish Charla and her family all the best.

She lost almost both her hands, both her eyes and now has a piece of skin from her leg over where her nose used to be. She can only sip her meals through a straw now as she just has a small slit where her mouth used to be.

Ms. Nash revealed to Oprah on her show that one day she hopes to get a face transplant and a hand transplant, but it is not known if she will be a candidate for either.

She does not remember anything about the chimp attack and said she does not want to remember. Paramedics who responded to the scene said they found pieces of Charla's fingers everywhere.

"The monkey had ripped off her entire upper jaw, had ripped off her nose, which was hanging by a thread," said Dr. Kevin Miller, who treated Nash when she was taken to the emergency room. "We found extensive dirt, chimp fur, and chimp teeth implanted in her bone."

Ms. Nash has filed a lawsuit against Sandra Herold but the case has not gone to court yet.

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Clotee Allochuku

at 18:36 on May 7th, 2010

This sounds like it was an extremely violent attack by an assumed tame animal. I hope she will be able to recover and live independently again.

Clotee Allochuku

at 08:01 on May 16th, 2010

I previously thought Chimpanzees were docile and cute but not anymore. They are just as vicious as lions or sharks! How could the owner of this animal call her friend to the scene when the chimp was in such an agitated state? She should have called 911!