A mother-of-one underwent a life-changing reconstructive surgery after she survived an acid attack.
Atsede Niguse is finally on the road to recovery after the surgery in California.
It was in July 2017 when Niguse’s estranged husband threw battery acid in her face as she stood at the door of her mother’s house, blinding and disfiguring her.
Manbere Aklilu from the Bay Area decided to help the mother-of-one get a humanitarian visa after hearing her story on social media.
Several organizations also helped Niguse, including Face Forward and Saint Francis Memorial Hospital as they help reconstruct her mouth, nose, and eyes.
Niguse hopes her story can encourage other women to speak out about domestic abuse.
In an interview with Daily Mail, Aklilu, whom Niguse lives with, said: “He was beating her, while she was pregnant and in front of her son.”
Niguse’s husband forced her to marry him and would beat her every day for almost six years. But after he knocked her teeth out, she demanded a divorce.
Around six months later, the estranged husband hid in a bush and waited for Niguse to arrive at her mother’s house.
“He told her: This acid is nothing; I want to kill you,’” Aklilu shared.
The mother-of-one lost one of her ears and most of her nose. The vicious attack also left her blinded.
“He took away my face and my identity,” Niguse expressed.
After Aklilu heard her story on Facebook, she immediately decided to help her as she is also a survivor of domestic abuse.
“So when I saw her story, I thought I can give a hand to this person,” Aklilu said. “Her son is so cute, and I see my son in him, so I want to help her.”
The mother-of-one just had her first of several reconstruction surgeries.
The executive director of Face Forward, Mandi Budd, told Daily Mail: “Aklilu told me that (Niguse) said after her first surgery: ‘Oh I’ve had worse pain then this, this isn’t pain.’ And I thought: ‘Wow, what spirit she has!’”
Niguse hopes her story can encourage other women to speak out if they are experiencing domestic abuse.
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Replaced!