By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-06 20:27:27 | Updated at 2024-12-23 02:42:24
2 weeks ago
A freak accident with a designer bag has left one young woman with a permanent injury.
Genevieve Brewster says her friend swung her arm back to slip her Dior Saddle Bag onto her shoulder on a night out in 2021, accidentally hitting her with the metal strap, which caused a small tear in her left eye.
The 24-year-old visited a doctor initially, who cleaned up the wound, but didn't seek further medical help when she started seeing 'flashes of lights' and 'floaters' - as she didn't have health insurance and put it down to working in a nightclub.
'When the bag hit me I think it caused a small tear,' the model explained. 'As time progressed and my symptoms got worse and I let it go, that's when I believe the tear turned into a detachment.'
However, in December 2021 she went to the hospital after she was unable to see anything out of her left eye - and was stunned to find she had detached three-quarters of her retina.
'Any of the smaller symptoms and signs I did [have I] just keep pushing off,' she explained.
'I was 22 at the time and I thought "this will go away, it's no big deal. Nothing can happen to me, I'm young, I'm healthy,"' she continued.
'That's the guilt I wake up with everyday, I wish I went to the doctor earlier. It's hard to deal with, you know in your gut something's wrong.'
Genevieve Brewster says her friend swung her arm back to slip her Dior addle bag onto her shoulder, accidentally hitting her with the metal strap, which caused a small tear in her left eye
Genevieve underwent a huge nine surgeries, which she said left her looking like she'd been 'beat up' and 'ashamed' to look in the mirror.
The hospitality worker was hopeful; her sight may be salvageable after seeing some improvement in October 2023.
'When I was first diagnosed it was unknown if I'd lose my sight. With my first surgery he told me there'd be 80 percent chance it would work,' she recalled.
'[The surgery is] quite traumatic on the eye, your eye is beyond red and bloodshot for a very long time,' she added.
The model said that as she was undergoing surgeries, she was so ashamed by how her face looked she stopped socializing.
'I would stop going out, I stopped trying to see friends. I just wanted no one to see me and no one to look at me,' she admitted.
'It was really hard grieving the things I loved,' the hospitality worker continued. 'I'm an avid skier, I can't ski anymore. I wasn't able to exercise and I was putting on weight.'
However, Genevieve was devastated to learn that her retina had completely detached in September 2024, leaving her only able to make out shadows and colors.
The 24-year-old visited a doctor initially, who cleaned up the wound, but didn't seek further medical help when she started seeing 'flashes of lights' and 'floaters' - as she didn't have health insurance and put it down to working in a nightclub
However, Genevieve was devastated to learn that her retina had completely detached in September 2024, leaving her only able to make out shadows and colors
The hospitality worker was hopeful; her sight may be salvageable after seeing some improvement in October 2023
'It was heartbreaking, I don't think I've really come to terms with what it means,' she said mournfully.
'This time I completely detached my retina, the whole thing just came off. There was nothing holding it together. That's when I had to go into surgery again
"[The surgeon] put my retina back together, put oil in my eye and had to laser off some more of the scarring,' she explained.
Retinal detachment is where the retina, the thin layer at the back of the eye, becomes loose and it must be treated quickly to stop it permanently affecting your sight.
Genevieve admitted her biggest fear is now also losing sight in her right eye so is very careful to protect it.
'If anything happens to that eye I don't know where I'd be. That's my biggest fear,' she shared.
'I can deal with now not having clarity of perception in this eye. It's been two years, I'm used to it,' she added.
The model now urges others to 'listen to their gut' and not be afraid to visit a doctor if they suspect something might be wrong.
'Trust your gut, your gut never lies to you,' she urges.
'Be prepared as a young person, have insurance, don't be scared to go to the doctor. You need to take care of yourself,' she continued.
'You are your only advocate. You have to advocate for yourself. Do all the things necessary to make sure you're taking care of yourself and be your biggest advocate.'
