June 29, 2017
After several weeks of evaluations and coordination among the collaborated team of doctors treating Shondell, she had her first of three scheduled surgeries today. The surgery lasted 3 hours and she is currently in recovery. This surgery focused on the areas around her eyes and lips. With regards to her eyes, the doctors operated to reopen her left eye, which was sealed close due to her injuries, and they prepared the surrounding areas for vision correction surgery.

Shondell must now wait approximately 4 weeks for this first phase of surgery to heal, then move forward with vision correction treatment. The doctor who will perform her vision correction surgery is one of the top three doctors in the field, and he is extremely optimistic that her vision can be restored.

Phase three of her treatment will focus on further skin graft and corrective surgeries.

Shondell's road to recovery is a long one, but she is upbeat and grateful for the chance at a normal life.

Shondell has endured unimaginable pain and suffering since she was brutally burned with corrosive acid by her estranged husband on January 19, 2017; since then her life has been consumed with hospital stays, surgeries, and seemingly endless doctor visits. Yet, she is determined to get her life and her vision back, so that she can raise her two children and be an advocate for victims of domestic violence.

Shondell underwent vision correction surgery and her vision was restored in one eye, but the extent of her injuries were extremely damaging and despite her doctors numerous attempts to keep scar tissues from growing over the eye opening, they have been unsuccessful. There is a strong chance of improving her vision further, but it will require at least one more complex surgery, involving two very skilled surgeons, and we are working to make this happen.

Additionally, Shondell is currently in the process of receiving extensive facial reconstructive surgery. She has undergone surgery to reconstruct her nose which was dissolved in the acid attack. This is an extremely lengthy process, where a bone from her rib was used to graft her nose. She is now healing from that surgery.

Despite all her difficulties, SHEA Charity remains committed to seeing Shondell through the completion of her treatment. Shondell has now been under our care for 17 months.

April 19, 2019
Shondell wants more than anything to be able to see again; to be able to play with her boys, cook them their favorite meals, tie their shoe laces, and walk them to school. She wants to be able to do things that some of us may take for granted, but she cannot! Shondell was violently attacked by her estranged husband who threw acid on her, causing her to lose her vision and suffer disfiguring burns across her entire face and upper body.

She has been under our care since the incident occurred in January of 2017 and has undergone multiple extensive surgeries. Over the past two years, she has had surgeries to restore some of her facial features including her nose, lips, and scars on her face. She has also had vision correction surgery, which restored her sight in one eye; however, the tissues in the back of her eyes were badly damaged and it grew around the device that allowed her to see. Her journey would make anyone crumble to their knees in tears, but Shondell is strong, she is positive, and she fights like a warrior for her children.

February 5, 2020
We are pleased to share that Shondell has once again traveled to the United States as she continues with her treatment for burn care and vision restoration.

Under SHEA’s management, Shondell has had three major surgeries to restore her vision including a Keratoprosthesis implants; however, her vision restoration was short-lived due to the enormous amounts of dead tissues within her eyes.

Recently, the FDA has approved a new device which has shown great promise in patients with the same condition as Shondell. The doctors at Harvard University Hospital who have been treating Shondell from day one were able to get her approved for this device and she will undergo surgery on Friday, February 7.