Charla Nash, a victim of Travis the Chimp’s vicious attack on her February 2009, was left clinging to her life and in dire need of a complete face transplant.
Charla Nash visited Sandra Herold’s home on February 16, 2009 as she had done so many times before. The visit was anything other than normal.
Sandra Herold and Jerome Herold
Travis was adopted by Sandra Herold and Jerome Herold, a young chimpanzee, a decade before. He was only three days old when he arrived at the home. Although he was loved by the family and had lived with them since childhood, Travis had been experiencing erratic behavior for many years.
Tragically, Charla Nash was left permanently disfigured by the vicious attack of the chimp, who had dressed himself and done chores around her house.
Charla Nash And Sandra Herold’s Longtime Friendship
Sandra Herold was recently the victim of two tragedies. Suzan Herold, the Herolds’ only daughter, was killed in a car accident on a Virginia highway.
New York Magazine reported that Suzan’s infant girl was fine. Sandra Herold, however, fell into depression and had difficulty sustaining a relationship with her grandchildren.
After a long stay in hospital, Herold’s husband succumbed to stomach cancer in April 2005. Herold was also left with severe depression after the sudden loss of her husband. Travis, their pet chimp, was also affected.
We are both very sad to be without him. Travis still looks for him, especially at supper, since Travis and Jerry shared a glass of wine together. Herold wrote this letter almost a year ago to Florida’s chimpanzee sanctuary owners.
“I live with Travis alone, we eat together, but I worry that if something happens to my husband, what would happen to Travis. Therefore, I need to make sure that I do something before it happens.”
The loneliness of Sandra Herold and the unfavourable events in Charla’s life
Sandra Herold’s isolation, and the unfortunate circumstances in Charla’s life caused Sandra Herold and Charla Nash to drift apart.
Nash, her 12-year-old daughter, struggled to find permanent housing. They stayed in a shelter for over a year. Nash was doing odd jobs like yard work and cleaning horsestalls to make ends meet.
Nash and Herold were able to reconnect shortly after Jerry’s passing. Herold also offered Nash and her child a free loft apartment, which had belonged her late daughter. Herold also offered Nash a job in towing dispatch and bookkeeping.
Charla Nash took care of Herold’s lawn as well as Travis. He had already become obese and spent most of his time eating, snacking, watching TV and roaming around the house, which was now a mess of unworn clothes, stuffed in plastic bags and bins.
There was clearly much going on in the Herold household. However, Nash and Herold’s friendship seemed like a tiny beacon of light.
Travis The Chimp’s Savage Assault on Charla Nash
Sandra Herold and Charla Nah went on a rare trip to Montville’s Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut, one February weekend 2009. Herold brought her friend to the salon before she left. She joked that two potential bachelors might have appeared.
Herold returned home on February 16 to find a very agitated Travis. He took his keys from the kitchen counter and opened the door to her room.
He was uninterested in the usual things he enjoyed for the remainder of the day. Herold was concerned and put a Xanax in her afternoon tea.
The accounts were split here — Nash claimed that Herold called her and asked for her assistance in bringing Travis back to the home. Herold has however stated that Nash offered her assistance.
Charla Nash arrived at Herold’s home at 3:40 p.m. Travis was already in the yard. In an attempt to lure Travis back in, Nash gave him his favorite toy, the Tickle-Me Elmo doll.
Travis was suddenly a bit agitated. He ran over to Nash and stood on his legs. Then he threw him to the ground. As she lay bleeding on the ground, he continued to ravage her.
Herold started beating Travis with a shovel and hysterically. But the chimp wouldn’t stop. She ran to her house and grabbed a knife from the butcher, stabbing him in the back. He didn’t stop. He was stabbed twice more by her.
Travis raised his head and looked at his owner. He then continued his attack on Nash
Herold dialed 911 in frantic. She screamed, “He’s murdering my friend!” He tore her apart! Hurry! Hurry! Please!”
She was nearly unintelligible in panic and told the dispatcher, “He ripped her face off… He’s eating it!”
Charla Nash’s Lifetime Of Recovery
Police arrived to find Travis covered in blood, and he was still stalking the area. Travis fled the house after being shot several times by the officer. He was found dead at his bedpost, his blood trail following him through the bedroom and kitchen.
The yard was littered with bits of Nash’s corpse — flesh, fingers and almost half of her blood. Travis had taken off her eyelids and nose, jaw, lips and large portions of her scalp.
She reached for her leg as the officer approached her dead body. Charla Nash somehow survived.
In critical condition three days later, she was flown from Stamford by a helicopter to Cleveland Clinic, where she would receive 15 months of treatment.
Nine months later, Charla Nash, Charla’s 56th Birthday, revealed her face live on Oprah Winfrey’s show. This is now a well-known moment on television.
She has had many reconstructive surgeries in the years that followed, including a face-transplant.
Oprah heard her say that she has never quit before the transplant. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much to do… It’s difficult to live. Not even live — half-live.”
Nash’s story is saved by the fact that she doesn’t recall the attack a decade later
She told TODAY that she was told it could remain hidden for many years and could hit me, causing me nightmares and other such symptoms. “If it happens, I can seek psychological help. But, let’s just say that I don’t have nightmares or remembrance.”
Now in her 60s, Nash spends her time listening audiobooks and to music. However, she is still blind due to the attack. Although she may not have lost all her life, the woman she was has been almost gone. She even wears another person’s face.
She is optimistic about her recovery, and she hopes her surgeries will help other soldiers with similar disfigurements.
She advised that we should not dwell on the past or what happened. Think about where you are going, what you want to do next, and how you will be there. Never give up.”
Continue reading to learn more about Charla Nash and her miraculous survival. Next, read about the Colorado runner who defeated a mountain lion using his naked hands.
