Facing Up To My New Life

Accident left Kirsty in a coma. Disfigured for life at just 18. Ten years on, she won’t let her injuries define her

- Jenny Stallard and Amy Sharpe

Kirsty Smart, 28, Gwent

You need to look,’ my sister Marie, then 23, said. ‘The sooner you look in the mirror…’

I knew what she meant. But it was the last thing I wanted to do.

I’d been in a coma for 15 days, my face almost destroyed after being dragged under a car.

Who’d want to see that face?

Not me.

But, as I hobbled to the bathroom with Marie’s help, I finally found the courage to look at my reflection.

Unable to scream through my torn voice box, hoarse gasps of horror slipped out.

My legs buckled as I tried to back away.

Just 18, and disfigured for life. ‘We’ll get through this, Kirsty,’ Marie promised.

The accident, on 23 February 2007, was a blur.

A bit tipsy, I’d been walking home from a party, around 11pm, when it happened...

That girl

I can’t remember the car hitting me, or being dragged.

But even if my mind could forget, my eyes could see it every single day.

The girl looking at me in the mirror had wanted to travel.

She was through to the third round of interviews as a flight attendant, dreaming of stopovers in farflung locations.

Now, she was a mess... I was a mess. Every bone in my face was broken. My dreams ripped apart like my skin.