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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Tim Hanlon

Woman whose face torn off by dogs she was babysitting shares incredible recovery photos

A woman who had "skin hanging from her face" and needed to be put in an induced coma after being bitten more than 800 times in a dog attack has shared the results of her reconstruction surgery.

Jacqueline Durand, from Texas, was dogsitting for a couple just a day after her 22nd birthday when she was attacked by the dogs in December, 2021.

Having opened the door to the house, Jacqueline was jumped on by the dogs who tore off her nose, ears, lips and cheeks as she was dragged through the corridor and into the living room.

Her skin was torn off to the bone and she is lucky to be alive after losing 30% of her blood while she had to be resuscitated numerous times in the operating theatre.

But she has successfully undergone reconstruction surgery and now is sharing images of herself as she faces up to the way that she now looks.

Jaqueline was bitten more than 800 times by two dogs (CBS)

"I didn't ask for this, so I think that it's time to show who I am now and I can't be scared of it," CBS News.

"I want for dog owners to know their animals and be able to communicate with their sitters how they are."

Jacqueline was attacked by two rescue dogs, a boxer and pit bull mix and a German Shepherd, who she met once before and then had appeared "lovely".

But it was when Jaqueline went into their house that the dogs became aggressive and she endured a 37 minute long attack before she was finally rescued by police alerted to the door being left open via an alarm.

She had her face ripped off in the attack that lasted 37 minutes (CBS)

"When I felt the skin hanging from my face I was just, I thought I was going to die," she said.

Jacqueline had seven-hour emergency surgery and was in hospital for nearly two months.

She has now had 18 operations to rebuild her face with skin taken from other parts of her body.

Jaqueline said in one video: "It's a long road to go to recovery but I am doing alright I am progressing."

She has had 18 operations on her face (@jacqueline_claire99/Instagram)
Jaqueline has now shared pictures of herself as she comes to terms with the effects of the attack (@jacqueline_claire99/Instagram)

She also told how her boyfriend has stuck with her throughout the ordeal, having himself recently recovered from cancer when the attack took place.

"Yes, we are still together. With this experience we've grown closer together and he's been there for me since day one and I'm very grateful," she said.

"What some people might not know is that he had a cancer diagnosis and treatment in the last two years, thank goodness he's clear, everything's good with him but I was there for him every step of the way and so with the roles reversed it's really a beautiful thing to see how true our love is."

And Jaqueline has lost none of her love from dogs through the experience saying: "I was thinking dog training. That's my dream but I'm not sure where life is going to take me yet."

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