Charla Nash’s life took a dramatic turn in February 2009 when a visit to help a friend with a pet unexpectedly led to a harrowing ordeal. What began as a routine act of kindness quickly became a headline-grabbing tragedy that left Nash fighting for her life.
How did this all happen? Read on and find out.
Who is Charla Nash?
Charla Nash is an American woman who gained widespread attention due to a tragic incident involving a chimpanzee attack. Born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, Nash had lived a relatively private life before becoming the subject of national headlines.
She worked various jobs to support herself and her daughter, often taking on roles such as yard work and cleaning horse stalls. Nash is known for her resilient and positive attitude despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life.
Her story became well-known after a tragic event in 2009, which brought her immense public attention and transformed her into a symbol of strength and perseverance.
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What happened to Charla Nash?
In February 2009, Nash went to visit her long-time friend, Sandra Herold – a visit she had made many times before. However, this visit would end in unimaginable tragedy. Herold owned a pet chimpanzee named Travis, who had been part of her family for over a decade. Travis had grown up in the house, behaving almost like a human—he could dress himself, do chores and was a beloved local figure. Despite this, Travis had begun showing erratic behaviour in recent years.
On that fateful day, Travis was unusually agitated. Herold tried to calm him by giving him Xanax in his tea. Concerned, she called Nash for help. Nash arrived around 3:40 p.m., holding Travis’s favourite toy, a Tickle-Me-Elmo doll, hoping to coax him back into the house. Suddenly, Travis snapped. He charged at Nash, brutally attacking her. He threw her into a car and then to the ground, savagely biting and tearing at her face and hands.
Herold desperately tried to stop Travis, hitting him with a shovel and stabbing him with a knife but the chimp was relentless. In a panic, she called 911, screaming for help and telling the operator that Travis was “killing” her friend and had “ripped her face off”.
When the police arrived, they found Travis covered in blood, still aggressive. The officers shot him several times, and he retreated into the house, where he later died. The scene was horrific—bits of Nash’s flesh and blood were strewn across the yard. Miraculously, despite her devastating injuries, Nash survived.
Nash was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later transferred to the Cleveland Clinic, where she underwent multiple surgeries, including a full face transplant. Her injuries were severe—Travis had torn off her eyelids, nose, jaw, lips and a large portion of her scalp. Her road to recovery was long and painful.
Before the attack on Nash, several troubling events involving Travis the chimpanzee had already occurred. In October 2003, Travis caused a major disturbance when he escaped from Herold’s car. The incident started when a pedestrian threw an empty soda bottle into the car through a partly open window, hitting Travis. Startled and angry, Travis unbuckled his seatbelt, jumped out of the car and chased after the pedestrian, though he could not catch him. The police arrived and tried to get Travis back into the car, but he kept running around and evading them.
This incident led to new laws in Connecticut that banned the ownership of large primates and required permits for exotic pets. However, the law was not enforced against Herold and her husband, Jerome, because they had owned Travis for a long time and officials did not see him as an immediate threat. This inaction meant that Travis remained in the Herold household, where his behaviour would later lead to the tragic attack on Nash.
Despite the trauma, Nash showed remarkable resilience. She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, revealing her new face and sharing her story with the world. Even though she was blind and faced many challenges, she remained positive about her recovery. Nash focused on the future and what she could achieve, offering a message of hope and strength to others facing their battles.
Nash’s life was forever changed by the attack, but she continued to inspire with her courage and determination. Her story is a testament to human resilience and the will to survive against all odds.
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Charla Nash age
According to multiple sources, Nash is currently in her late 60s.
Charla Nash now
In recent times, Charla Nash has continued to demonstrate remarkable strength and resilience. After gaining public attention due to a tragic chimpanzee attack in 2009, which led to her undergoing a groundbreaking face transplant, Nash’s story has inspired many.
In a 2016 interview with Meredith Vieira, Nash shared her experiences and updates on her condition. She revealed a recent challenge where her body began to reject the face transplant after doctors attempted to wean her off anti-rejection drugs. This was part of a military-funded study aimed at determining if patients who receive transplants could safely reduce their medication, which comes with serious side effects such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Although the experiment did not succeed in her case, Nash did not regret participating, as it provided valuable insights that could help future transplant patients, including service members.
Fortunately, once she resumed her medications, Nash’s body accepted the transplanted face again, preventing any lasting damage. Despite the difficulties, Nash remained positive and expressed her desire to help others through her experience.
Nash now lives independently in a small apartment near Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She has an aide to assist her during weekdays but manages on her own on weekends. With the help of a transport service for the disabled, she can leave her home.
During an interview, Nash shared her goal of riding horses again, showing her determination not to be limited by her circumstances. She spoke about the daily struggles she faces but also highlighted the simple joys in her life, such as listening to birds singing and feeling the sun.
Nash’s story is also documented in the book, “The Woman Who Lost Her Face: How Charla Nash Survived the World’s Most Infamous Chimpanzee Attack”, written by NBC News and Meredith Vieira. This book provides a detailed account of her ordeal and recovery.
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