Domestic abuse survivor speaks out after chemical attack left her blind for months

SWNS

A woman was left blind after after her husband poured chemicals on to her face - melting off her eyelids - before taking his own life in a police shootout.   Heather Cornelius, 36, was married to her husband for 11 years before authorities removed her from their home in May last year.  Six months earlier, Heather's husband had pinned her down to the floor of their bedroom and poured an unknown alkaline solution onto her eyes.  The horrific attack came the day after Heather attempted to leave following a year of abuse.  Heather was left fully blind for seven months before she regained vision in her left eye.  Her husband ended up taking his own life in a shootout during a planned police stop six months later.  Now Heather is speaking out for the first time to help other victims of domestic violence.

Transcript

00:00My name is Heather and I am a survivor of a very extreme case of domestic violence.

00:07I was married for over 11 years to my husband who ultimately held me down and poured chemicals into my eyes.

00:19And this is the result of that.

00:22I've had five reconstructive surgeries.

00:25When it first happened, my eyelids were completely melted off as I laid there screaming.

00:32All that he could tell me was if I wasn't quiet that he would pour it down my throat and it would burn my insides and I would suffocate and die.

00:43He took me to the hospital. I still didn't come forward at that time that he had done it to me.

00:50I was too afraid.

00:52Now, I am living safely with my children. I never have to deal with that man again.

00:59He ultimately killed himself.

01:02When this initially happened, I was fully blind. I have, by the grace of God, regained vision in my left eye.

01:10I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to see out of my right eye again.

01:13But even if I never would have regained my eyesight, I'm still grateful to be alive.

01:19I survived things that nobody should.

01:22Chronic PTSD from an almost year and a half.

01:26Torturous.

01:27If there's somebody out there that doesn't feel like they're safe enough to get out, that doesn't feel like they can get out, I'm here to tell you that you can.

01:35And there is purpose to the pain. And there is purpose to the suffering.

01:39Because I now feel that I have a level of compassion that I never had before.

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