HOSPITAL HUG
Katie Piper reveals she’s had surgery to ‘save her eye’ as she’s comforted by daughter in hospital
The Loose Women panelist has been forced to issue a warning to 'trolls'
KATIE Piper has been given a big hug in hospital by her six-year-old daughter after having surgery to 'save her eye'.
The Loose Women star, 40, had a planned operation on her left eye this week in a bid to stop her sight from disappearing completely on that side.
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Katie has bravely shared several photographs of her face after her surgery and explained that her eyelid has been temporarily stitched closed.
The mum-of-two, who was horrifically attacked with sulphuric acid 15 years ago, says this will help her deteriorating sight to heal.
Her surgeon has also worked on scar tissue on her right eye, which has caused it to swell.
Tragically, Katie has felt it necessary to ask keyboard warriors not to 'troll her' as she opened up about her latest operation.
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Taking to Instagram, she explained that her latest op - a Tarsorrhaphy - has come after her lifelong recovery went "backwards".
Katie said: "This is me! (For now). On Tuesday I had a planned operation, a Tarsorrhaphy to my left eye.
"Tarsorrhaphy is the joining of part or all of the upper and lower eyelids so as to partially or completely close the eye.
"Temporary tarsorrhaphies are used to help the cornea heal or to protect the cornea during a short period of exposure or disease.
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"I’ve also had scar tissue operated on on my right eye, so that will also be slightly swollen."
Katie continued: "I wanted to put this here for a few reasons: Firstly to educate that living with the kind of injures I have means things will change through out your life and sometimes things go backwards.
"There isn’t really an end point and part of this kind of recovery is acceptance of that.
"Secondly with a disfigurement surgical decisions have to be based around function not aesthetics. In my case I am trying to preserve the eye, avoid perforation and loosing my eye completely.
"Also just because something is on view permanently it doesn’t give people the right to constantly comment on your appearance- you never know what’s going on in someone’s life."
Katie, who is married to husband Richard Sutton, went on to admit that she does "find it hard".
"Also, if this helps anyone else…. yes I do sometimes find it hard," she admitted.
"I’m ok with looking different to everyone else but operations can sometimes take me back to memories of how this all started and that’s hard mentally.
"I always think I’m incredibly lucky with this space here on IG. I feel like I have an intelligent, interesting and kind following.
"So I know most of you will find this update useful and probably have had your own similar journeys of medical or mental health recoveries, but for the few that will send msgs or leave negative comments (I’ve heard them all before, nothing new) then this explanation/ education is for you."
Katie added: "I’m still the same person. I’ve just had different path in life to most and that’s ok.
"For most part I live a fulfilling, privileged and very happy life. For that I’m extremely grateful for. But as I recover I’m asking that you please don’t troll me."
Katie finished by thanking her eye surgeon, Mr Joshi, for his and his team's "care, compassion and skill" over the years.
The TV star, who has her own Katie Piper Foundation for burns sufferers, has been inundated with well-wishes.
Her friend and former Apprentice star Luisa Zissman, however, told her: "This post made me sad you have to asked not to be trolled.
"This is the world we live in. 😢 all I see is a brave, fierce, strong woman ❤️ wishing you a smooth recovery my love xxx."
Another of her supporters wrote: "You are just the most incredible woman I’ve ever met and followed, your ability to share so openly and yet speak only from a place of wanting to help others despite finding it difficult too sometimes is nothing short of spectacular. Sending you the biggest hug x."
And someone else added: "I can’t believe so many people find it acceptable to troll another human being with their sole intentions being to hurt someone else.. it’s so sad 😢
"I think you are amazing Katie, I have followed your journey since you were young and I am so proud of you for being able to be an inspiration to so many and go on to have a beautiful family."
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Katie was attacked with sulphuric acid in 2008 when she was 24.
Her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch had ordered a friend to carry out the violent and horrific assault after stalking her.
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