Annie Walton Doyle
A woman who lost her entire forehead in a tragic accident is issuing a stark warning to others.
Gráinne Kealy, from Ireland, is sharing her story to stop others from having the same experience.
It all began in 2006 when the then 22-year-old was sat in a common but dangerous position while in the car.
When Kealy’s boyfriend’s jeep skidded on black ice, she was positioned with her feet on the dashboard.
The vehicle’s airbags inflated, resulting in her knees flying into her face and shattering almost every bone.
In an interview with IGV, Kealy recalls: “I had decided somewhere along the way that I would be more comfortable if my feet were on the dashboard.
“When the airbag opened upon impact, my knees were then pushed into my face at high speed. An airbag opens up around 200mph.”
Kealy was left with a minor brain injury and facial injuries that were so severe that surgeons had to remove her forehead. The accident also resulted in a CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leak and the loss of two of her teeth.
Thankfully, her partner only had minor injuries.
Kealy recounts: “My recovery was long and brutal at times. Not just the physical pain but the mental and emotional pain were sometimes crippling.
“Not wanting to look at your own face is difficult but always seeing people’s reaction to it was something I don’t think I ever got used to.
“Not only was I trying to live in a new reality but I also had to try and get used to not having a forehead. It still amazes me that I lived without a forehead for two years. It sometimes doesn’t feel real.”
Eventually, in 2009, Kealy was fitted with a ceramic forehead.
Kealy has decided to share her story in the aftermath of the incident. She hopes that by sharing photos of her injuries others will think twice about putting their feet on the dashboard.
The mom tells IGV: “I was tired of seeing people doing the same thing while I was in traffic but also online and in movies or TV programs.
“It scared me to think of someone else doing what I did and ending up like me. I fully understand that it is an obvious thing.”
She adds: “It breaks my heart when I see some celebrities posting a photo of themselves online with their feet on the dashboard. They have millions and millions of followers.
“The heartbreaking part about it is they don’t realize what they are doing. They don’t realize how dangerous their actions are.”
The public response to Kealy’s message has been overwhelming.
She tells IGV: “People from all around the world have been in touch with me to thank me for sharing my story.
“I hope passengers learn that they are responsible for more than putting on their seat belts when in a vehicle. People need to give themselves the best possible chance of surviving a road traffic accident.”
Although she’s received some negative comments, Kealy says she’s had many more kind and thoughtful ones.
She adds: “Sharing my story on social media has been eye-opening. As I said, I’ve seen thousands of mean and rude comments about myself but I’ve also seen thousands of kind and caring comments.
“I love it when I see people tagging people they know who put their feet on the dashboard. It gives me hope that my warning is being heard.”
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