Mum whose face was melted in an unprovoked ACID ATTACK reveals how she helps others going through th

A brave mother is using her experience of a brutal acid attack to help other victims of the savage crime.

She courageous mum’s face was melted in the unprovoked attack but she says she is thankful for her scars.

Karli Butler was only 23-years-old when she was left fighting for her life after the lethal liquid was squirted in her face by an unknown woman.

She had third degree burns to 30% of her body and was left with dramatic 70% scarring.

Doctors initially thought that she may not make it but now Karli inspires others with her incredible tale of strength and recovery and she says she wouldn’t change a thing.

Karli, 32, said: “Going to sleep one person and waking up someone else is really difficult and there is, no one can prepare you for something like that.

“Before I was burnt, I put so much of my worth into how I looked in my physical appearance.

“My definition of beauty has definitely changed. Beauty is much more than skin deep and I love my scars, I always say I love my stripes. I wouldn’t change anything.”

Before the attacker struck, Karli loved her lifestyle.

She said: “Before I was attacked I was 23-years-old living pretty much the life of my dreams.

“I was working as an executive assistant at a pediatric therapy clinic. So I was making more money that I have never seen.

“I felt like the world was at my fingertips and I was just enjoying the life and unfortunately that changed.”

Karli went to visit her cousin in Chicago on May 26 2006 when she was approached by two women she didn’t know.

Karli said: “I took off running towards my car and they took off running towards me.

“I eventually made it into my car but one of them had a gun and she was trying to get it into the car.

“Eventually she got her hand in and she put her gun on my face and she said, ‘Do it again and I’ll shoot you.’

“I put my hands up immediately and I felt the splash. It was horrible - I can’t even describe the pain.

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“My eyes burned so badly my first reaction was to wipe and my eyes melted down and then I felt the second splash on my stomach.

“I remember just screaming and screaming and my skin falling off of my face.”

Horrifically burned, Karli was rushed to hospital where medics fought to save her.

She spent six weeks in the Intensive Care Unit recovering from full thickness third degree burns.

Karli was left with scars to 70% of her body and at first seeing her altered reflection was a traumatic experience.

She said: “I completely lost it because I didn’t know who that person was and my life would completely be turned upside down from then on.

“I couldn’t work or even think about my day to day because I was in so much pain and traumatized more than I could have imagined possible.”

Karli’s attacker, Nicole Baker, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for heinous battery but the other woman involved walked free due to a lack of evidence.

There are still a lot of things about the attack that Karli doesn’t understand.

Karli said: “There was a lot of speculation about what happened to me and to this day I don’t have the answers that I want.

“The police told me that it was because of the guy that I was dating.

“He was never arrested or charged with anything, it was alleged that he was involved in some street activity and instead of those people retaliating against him they retaliated against me and I suffered the consequences.”

Incredibly Karli has forgiven everyone involved and even attempted to reconcile with her attacker in prison who rejected the offer.

Karli said: “I was angry, I was hurt and also confused about why they do something so heinous, but all that negative energy was negatively impacting my own life.

“I hold no ill will, I actually wrote her a letter last summer just telling her that I hope she sees better days and to let her know that it’s a wash, but I never heard anything back from her.”

Initially Karli suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression but she would not let that beat her and, with therapy and exercise she overcame the issues.

She now helps others who have experienced trauma and abuse.

Karli said: “I’m in a really great place in my life, I’m now working as a social service provider with young women.

“I have an amazing four-year-old son and my experiences are actually bringing a lot of amazing opportunities to my life that I otherwise don’t think I would have.

“I’m thankful for everything, I’m thankful for my scars, I’m thankful for the trauma that has ultimately shaped who I am.

“I’m thankful for my supportive family and friends and I’m just thankful for this life.”

Now Karli is looking forward to the future and has started a website to tell her story and reach out to others.

Karli said: “Before I was burnt, I put so much of my worth into how I looked in my physical appearance.

“Now I realise that beauty is something else altogether and I want to use my experiences to be an advocate.

“I want to help as many women as I can as well as learn from them and hopefully create a community of body positive people.”

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