Woman Mauled by Chimp to Get Face, Hand Transplant

Everyone remembers the horrific incident when Charla Nash was mauled by a chimpanzee two years ago, completely losing her face and hands.  This memorable tragedy made news headlines everywhere, leaving the world in awe and fear.  Charla, was an ordinary woman, 55, who one day when trying to help a friend round up her chimpanzee who had escaped, had her entire world changed drastically.  The chimp, named Travis, savagely attacked Charla, leaving her with no face or hands.  It was a miracle that she survived this vicious attack, she lost her nose, lips, eyes, and hands, and also all the bones in her face were broken.  It was against every rule of nature that she was able to survive.  The doctors had to completely change her face for her in order to get just fluids through a straw.  This incident was one that shocked a lot of people.  Chimps, somewhat smaller primates have always been known to be very friendly and kind towards others.  They usually have calm tempers and are able to be patient and kind toward other primates as well as people.  That's why many people are seen holding chimps and being associated with them.  This was  a very curious case, because the chimp literally went balistic, doing some severe damage.  Chimps may be kind for the most part, but they do know how to defend themselves.  In the wild it was a must.  They are clever and can use things to their advantage to make sure they are safe. Charla was declared eligible last month for a face and hand  transplant and is currently waiting for a donor.  Charla is unable to do simple tasks like seeing, touching,or smelling and struggles to eat through a straw following the mauling in February 2009 that left her horribly disfigured.  After undergoing several pre-operative tests and evaluations, surgeons at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston gave her the green light.  Now they just have to wait to find a donor match.  Hospital officials are working with the New England Organ Bank to find donors who match Nash's tissue requirements.  If they are able to find a match, this could be a life altering surgery for Charla.  It is a huge possibility for her that could do wonders for her future.  Hopefully they will be able to find a donor as soon as possibly. This is a tragic and unpredicted story, and hopeuflly now it can finally have a bit of a happier ending.  It is amazing how something so small can do  something so terrible and life altering to a person.  Hopefully an incident like this will never happen again, but there really is no way to predict so, however thank goodness for science and all the new medical ways to improve something. 

Love & Peace