On February 16, 2009, in Stamford, Connecticut, Charla Nash was viciously attacked by a friend’s pet chimpanzee, Travis. The 911 call was pure terror — screams, chaos, and a desperate plea: “Bring guns!”

When officers arrived, they found Charla barely alive — her face and hands destroyed beyond recognition. Against all odds, she survived after hours of surgery and one of the world’s most complex face transplants.

Charla lost her sight and much of her independence, but not her spirit.

Today, she stands as a symbol of courage, resilience, and medical hope — proof that even after unimaginable horror, the human will to live can still shine through.