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Chimp Victim Leaves Hospital After 15 Months

Charla Nash hopes to undergo additional reconstructive surgery

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted May 7, 2010 10:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – Charla Nash, who was mauled and blinded by a friend’s chimpanzee in February 2009, left the Cleveland Clinic yesterday. She “has made great progress in her recovery,” the hospital said in a statement. Nash will continue rehabilitation at a Boston-area assisted-living center and hopes to undergo more reconstructive surgery, the AP reports. In January, the Cleveland Clinic told Nash’s family it could not perform a face and hand transplant.

The hand transplant in particular would be difficult because the hands must come from the same donor and be transplanted simultaneously, the Stamford Advocate reports, but a spokesperson was vague when asked whether Nash is looking to have the surgery elsewhere: “Charla has many options in front of her and all are in play.” Her family has sued the chimp’s owner for $50 million, but she is attempting to limit her liability by calling the attack work-related.

Charla Nash is shown in a YouTube thumbnail. (BIZZAROpRODUCTIONs)

This Oct. 20, 2003 file photo shows Travis, the chimpanzee who attacked Charla Nash. (AP Photo/The Stamford Advocate, Kathleen O'Rourke, File)

Sandra Herold, owner of Travis the chimpanzee, speaks to reporters in Stamford, Conn. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

youngblood

May 8, 2010 1:06 AM CDT

What a great fucking friend she had in Sandra Herold who is now saying, hey my good friend I'm really sorry you got your face and hands and eyes ripped off by my animal that should not have been in a zoo and not a pet in my house. Excuse me Dear but it's work related so you can only collect workman's compensation from me. Call my lawyer he'll explain it. But hey give me a call if you can pick up the phone. I don't know what difference it makes suing her for 40million, 50 million 100 million that scum lady does not look like she has even $100.00. Be better to sue the city she lives in for not having that animal picked up and taken to a zoo in order to protect the citizens of their community.

Jeebus

May 7, 2010 5:38 PM CDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

DontLikeYou___

May 7, 2010 3:47 PM CDT

15 months. Wow.

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Chimp Victim Leaves Hospital After 15 Months

Charla Nash hopes to undergo additional reconstructive surgery

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