Before the attack, Katie was a model and budding TV presenter with a hectic social life and a glowing future in the public eye. The acid destroyed all the skin on Katie’s face, neck and hands, and left her blind in one eye. It also burnt her nose and throat so severely that she needed to be fed through a tube in her stomach and now regularly has operations to dilate her esophagus as the scar tissue reforms and restricts her ability to eat and drink.
Surgeons performed pioneering surgery on Katie. They chose to control the damage by removing the dead layers of skin from Katie’s face and rebuilding the foundations using a dermal substitute called Matriderm along with huge skin grafts from her back and buttocks. It was the first of its kind in the world to be done as a single stage operation.
Katie spent seven weeks in the burns unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She was placed in an induced coma and spent ten days in intensive care. She wore a special plastic pressure mask for 23 hours a day for two years, in an effort to flatten her scars.
In May 2009 Katie made the decision to give up her anonymity and share her story in a remarkable film for the Cutting Edge strand on Channel 4 called ‘Katie: My Beautiful Face’. The programme, supported by a huge press campaign, first aired in November 2009 to critical acclaim. Katie went on to deliver Channel 4's alternative to the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast.
Recently, Katie set up the Katie Piper Foundation to improve rehabilitation facilities for burns survivors while providing a network of support and information on burns, scars and treatment, both medical and non-medical. This has been followed by a four part series for Channel 4 which will be broadcast at the beginning of next year. Katie launched the charity in July 2010 with Simon Cowell as patron. Katie is also writing her autobiography which will be published early next year.
Testimonials
Katie was absolutely brilliant, totally inspirational and a really lovely person. She made our day by coming along, the feed-back has been brilliant. Anita Mathieson – Inspiration 4 Ability
Surgeons performed pioneering surgery on Katie. They chose to control the damage by removing the dead layers of skin from Katie’s face and rebuilding the foundations using a dermal substitute called Matriderm along with huge skin grafts from her back and buttocks. It was the first of its kind in the world to be done as a single stage operation.
Katie spent seven weeks in the burns unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She was placed in an induced coma and spent ten days in intensive care. She wore a special plastic pressure mask for 23 hours a day for two years, in an effort to flatten her scars.
In May 2009 Katie made the decision to give up her anonymity and share her story in a remarkable film for the Cutting Edge strand on Channel 4 called ‘Katie: My Beautiful Face’. The programme, supported by a huge press campaign, first aired in November 2009 to critical acclaim. Katie went on to deliver Channel 4's alternative to the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast.
Recently, Katie set up the Katie Piper Foundation to improve rehabilitation facilities for burns survivors while providing a network of support and information on burns, scars and treatment, both medical and non-medical. This has been followed by a four part series for Channel 4 which will be broadcast at the beginning of next year. Katie launched the charity in July 2010 with Simon Cowell as patron. Katie is also writing her autobiography which will be published early next year.
Testimonials
Katie was absolutely brilliant, totally inspirational and a really lovely person. She made our day by coming along, the feed-back has been brilliant. Anita Mathieson – Inspiration 4 Ability
The remarkable Katie Piper is a beautiful, young woman who is in the very public process of rebuilding her life after surviving a brutal attack in March 2008 when her ex boyfriend arranged for someone to throw sulphuric acid in her face. She is so brave and determined not only for her own survival but she spends much time helping others who have been disfigured in some way. Her speeches are simply inspirational.
Katie Piper talks about an experience that would break most people, Katie did shed many tears but she also managed to laugh. Listen to a story of a young woman who appeared to have it all but ironically when it was taken away from her in seconds in a frenzied acid again she discovered a fascinating inner strength and a life more fulfilled and happier than she ever could of hoped for. Inspiring yes, but also intriguing and fascinating, one woman’s loss of identity as she knew it and fighting for the right to still smile!
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