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Woman without a face gets a new chance at life
By
Jennifer Stacy
Story Created:
Nov 3, 2008 at 5:38 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 3, 2008 at 7:01 PM EST
NAPLES, Fla. - A single Mom survives a terrible car wreck, but is left severely maimed. Now thanks to some talented and generous Southwest Floridians, she is getting her life back.
Life is drastically different for Amalia, a single mother of 7 from Columbia, after a horrific car crash in 2001. The car rolled, it's frame resting on her head, trapping her. Rescuers, fearing an explosion, rushed to get her out.
What happened next is difficult to describe, even more difficult to comprehend. While being pulled from the wreckage, Amalia's entire face was torn off, leaving only a mouth.
"She has no nose, eyes, cheekbones " Explains David Trainer, a Maxilliofacial "It's quite extensive, it's very difficult to describe."
"It's something you feel like is inhuman. You feel like its not fair that a person can live like that," says Amalia's daughter Rocio Villa.
Amalia spent an entire year in a coma, and woke up to a living hell. She was forced to live in seclusion, many of her friends and family too disturbed to look at her. She had no eyes or sight, no face, and no money to get help.
Desperate, her daughter tracked down one of the best prosthetic makers in the world, David Trainer, who happens to work in Naples.
"I like doing it, it gives me a good feeling and it's a challenge," explains Trainer.
Trainer spent countless hours sculpting a new face out of silicone for Amalia, agonizing over every detail.
"In this situation I had nothing to copy and nothing to go on other than pictures she had before the accident," explains Trainer.
He also recruited help.
Doctor Stephen Laquis performed surgery for free. He implanted magnets into what was left of Amalia's head, which would hold her prosthetic face in place. An operating room was donated by Physician's Regional Hospital. A custom, human hair wig and eyebrows was also given for free.
"What they are doing is amazing because they are doing the nose very close to the way she was before, also the eyes and the hair is exactly like she had before." Explains Villa. "It's a gift from God."
Another gift? - Lessons learned from Amalia was another gift.
"I learned to never give up, never give up even if you are having a difficult time." Explains Villa.
"If you get up in the morning and have a headache it's not that bad. Life's not as bad as you think... it could be a lot worse," explains Trainer. "I'm hoping she'll be happy and her family will be happy, and she'll be able to lead her life again."
The Courtyard Marriott allowed Amalia's family to stay for free during their time in Naples. In all, our community donated more than $50,000 dollars in services.
The Discovery Channel is documenting Amalia's recovery, and they will soon share her story with the world.
For now, Amalia is happy to return home to Columbia. She wants to go back to work, and is excited to once again live her life surrounded by friends and family.