Warning: this article contains distressing content
A woman who tore out her own eyeballs while high on drugs has explained how she feels about it years later.
Back in 2018, student Kaylee Muthart was struggling with drug addiction and a breakup when she got the feeling 'someone had to sacrifice something important to right the world, and that person was me'.
She had just recently been convinced to go into rehab by her mother, but before going in, she bought some meth and took a large dose while outside a church in South Carolina.
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Thinking that everyone in the world would die if she didn't tear out her eyes, Kaylee rendered herself permanently blind after she dug her fingers into her eyeballs and tore them out.
A pastor heard her shouting, 'I want to see the light' and rushed over, with Kaylee saying she had been 'holding my eyeballs in my hands' by that point.
She was rushed to hospital to remove what was left of her eyes and prepare her sockets for prosthetics, while she also received psychiatric treatment.
Her mum, Katy Tompkins, said that Kaylee had 'been given a second chance', and the woman herself reflected on how her life had changed since that day.
According to the Daily Mail, Muthart said she is actually 'happier now' than she was before the incident.
She said: "Activities I used to enjoy, like playing guitar and learning piano, are going to be harder now that I'm blind, but I'm still optimistic.
"When I stub my toe or my knee, I think, Well, it probably saved me from walking into a wall and hitting my face. Of course there are times when I get really upset about my situation, particularly on nights when I can't fall asleep.
"But truthfully, I'm happier now than I was before all this happened. I'd rather be blind than dependent on drugs."
She explained that it started when a friend gave her a joint laced with meth, which led her to think she was closer to god, and she ended up chasing that high again.
She has since been given prosthetic eyes and is using her story to try and warn other people away from taking drugs.
Her mum said: "Mentally and physically Kaylee has come so far. We take one day at a time, but each of her days gets better.
“Her thoughts are very goal-oriented, and now she completely understands her path. Part of that path is to help people with her story."
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300
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Topics: US News, Health, Mental Health, Drugs
Joe Harker