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Home / World

'Woman, 20, who gouged out eyes while high on meth talks about new life

Daily Mail
31 May, 2018 07:50 AM3 mins to read

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An analysis of the drug methamphetamine and its usage in NZ.

Kaylee Muthart has been trying to rebuild her life ever since she gouged her eyes out with her hands while high on meth.

The 20-year-old was sent home from the hospital in March and has stayed off meth ever since her drug-induced rage on February 6 that scarred her for life.

On that fateful day she blinded herself outside her home in Anderson, South Carolina during a psychotic episode sparked by the powerful drug, according to the Daily Mail.

Muthart will undergo a three-week rehabilitation course with the South Carolina Commission of the Blind in hopes of improving her orientation and mobility. Photo / Facebook
Muthart will undergo a three-week rehabilitation course with the South Carolina Commission of the Blind in hopes of improving her orientation and mobility. Photo / Facebook

But she has somehow managed to stay positive and is making the best of her new circumstances.

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"I actually feel like a person. I feel like myself, and I don't feel like I'm chasing something," she told People.

"It, actually, feels really nice. The way it worked out is the way God had it work out, that's just the way it is ... but I'd rather for it to have happened than to still be stuck in that world."

Muthart underwent emergency surgery to clean out her orbital sockets and spent weeks in Greenville Memorial Hospital before going to a psychiatric facility.

Kaylee says despite learning to traverse her world without sight she says: "I'd rather be blind and be myself than be Kaylee on drugs."
Kaylee says despite learning to traverse her world without sight she says: "I'd rather be blind and be myself than be Kaylee on drugs."

She recently underwent mobility and orientation training to help readjust to life but was honest that all the positive thinking does yield to dark moments of sadness and frustration.

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"I'm a very optimistic person, and I went in with an optimistic outlook — but at some points, you're going to fall down," she asserted. "That's just life."

She now uses audio descriptors to watch shows on Netflix. Muthart has also spent time practising the piano and guitar, learning how to play songs Clocks and The Scientist from Coldplay.

Muthart has spent time practising the piano and guitar, learning how to play songs "Clocks" and "The Scientist" from Coldplay. Photo / Instagram
Muthart has spent time practising the piano and guitar, learning how to play songs "Clocks" and "The Scientist" from Coldplay. Photo / Instagram

But she does sleep most of the day away, waking in the late afternoon.

"My dreams are colorful, and it's like being able to see again," she said. "They can be strange, and switch scenes really quickly. But it's comforting because it's colourful. I like sleeping a lot because it's like I can see."

Discover more

World

Mum speaks out after girl gouges eyes out while high on meth

24 Feb 12:06 AM
World

'Life is more beautiful now' - woman who gouged her eyes out

12 Mar 03:50 AM

Muthart shared that most have been sympathetic when encountering her and have shared their own stories about battling drug addiction with her.

She said: "People who are actually on drugs will understand that drugs are capable of doing the things that they did to me. Sharing my story might make them realise that, or it might encourage them to stop."

Kaylee Muthart, 20, pulled out her eyes on February 6 in a meth-induced psychotic trip outside of a church in her hometown Anderson, South Carolina.
Kaylee Muthart, 20, pulled out her eyes on February 6 in a meth-induced psychotic trip outside of a church in her hometown Anderson, South Carolina.

Muthart will undergo a three-week rehabilitation course with the South Carolina Commission of the Blind in hopes of improving her orientation and mobility.

She is then slated to have her first of two surgeries on July 3rd that will work to prepare her orbital cavities to receive prosthetic eyes.

Her family launched a GoFundMe to help offset the financial burden of some of the cost, raking in more than $50k of the $75k goal.

Her family launched a GoFundMe to help offset the financial burden of some of the cost, raking in more than $50k of the $75k goal. Photo / Facebook
Her family launched a GoFundMe to help offset the financial burden of some of the cost, raking in more than $50k of the $75k goal. Photo / Facebook

Muthart's Supplemental Security Income was denied so the family must wait until her Social Security benefits start in September.

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She hopes to eventually go to college, however, and study marine biology.

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