Victim of Horrifying Chimp Attack Shows Face for the First Time on Oprah

Charla Nash reveals the aftermath of the vicious attack that left her with no eyes, nose or mouth

Another heartrending get for Oprah Winfrey.

Charla Nash, whose face was destroyed by her boss' pet chimpanzee in February, revealed the extent of her injuries for the first time during an interview that aired Wednesday on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

"I don't remember anything," Nash said, speaking on what was her 56th birthday, of the attack that left her severely disfigured.

"I told the doctor that I don't want to remember because I can't imagine what it was like. If I do start remembering, getting flashbacks, they have medicine to help me with that...I want to get healthy. I don't want to wake up with nightmares."

(Video from the interview is after the jump. Please be advised that it contains graphic and disturbing images.)

 

 

 

Nash, whose pride and joy remains her 17-year-old prom- and college-bound daughter, says that she was always afraid of her boss', Sandra Herold, pet chimp Travis. Even when it was a young thing it jumped on her back and ripped out a chunk of her hair.

Nash's family has taken action, suing Herold for $50 million in damages. Travis was shot and killed by police when they responded to Herold's chilling 911 call to report that her chimp had "ripped [Nash's] face off."

Herold's attorney, Robert Golger, released this statement to Oprah:

"All of Sandy's hopes and prayers are with Charla and her daughter in this challenging time. Sandy has always tried to help Charla and wishes her the best. When Charla lost her job, it was Sandy who provided her with employment and a place to live. Sandy hopes and prays for a full and speedy recovery."

In the meantime, Nash added, she can't sit around feeling sorry for herself.

"There's no time for that anyways, because I need to heal, you know, not look backwards," she said. "Sometimes it's hard to get out of bed in the morning, but if I don't feel good I still push myself to walk during the day."

And when she gets out of the hospital (she's currently living at the Cleveland Clinic), she's going to try to live her life as independently as possible, though she admits she has no interest in being alone.

"I'm the same person I've always been. I just look different," Nash said. "And there's things that happen in life that you can't change it, you know. It's a tragedy. Things happen."