RISE ABOVE

Kayla Hayes is a family member who was viciously attacked by her ex boyfriend in broad day light last year on October 21st.  When she refused to get back together with him, he leaned in and bit off her bottom lip.  Kayla said, "He just latched on to me.  I remember, I felt it tear and it was already numb, but I felt it and I went into complete shock and survival mode and started screaming.  I looked down and my lip was literally on my leg it was covered in gravel... I picked it up and was like what the heck is this and I had my phone in my hand somehow and I looked at my front camera and I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what was going on, how did this happen, how did this happen?  I just remember thinking, I wish this would be over.  All because he couldn't take being rejected." 

Kayla had undergone emergency plastic surgery to try to reattach her lip.  She received over 300 stitches, but doctors were unable to reattach her lip and she was left with permanent scarring and a limited range of motion with her mouth.  

She was also forced to withdraw from college, where she was studying to become a dental hygienist, and as a result, lost her scholarship.  She hopes to return to college and transition her studies to focus on  domestic violence-related issues.  Kayla and her mom will have to try and figure out a way to pay for college after she lost her scholarship.  

 After this traumatic event, Kayla and her mom had to sell their home of eleven years as the attack had taken place right down the street from their front door.  Kayla could not even go back to her own home for weeks because she would begin panicking every time she approached the street. 

This last year has been a struggle for Kayla. With love and support from her family and friends, she has managed to RISE ABOVE and realizes she will no longer be a victim when she looks at her reflection in the mirror. Instead, she will be a survivor!  

Any money raised will be going towards:
*Kayla's medical expenses:  She will soon be having another lip reconstruction to try to improve the mobility in her bottom lip for eating and will continue to have laser surgeries to reduce the scarring (each time she has the laser surgery, she cannot work for 4 to 5 days due to healing time and must wear a mask on her face to prevent infection. 
*Costs to cover missed work from laser treatments.
*College Education
*Help fund her RISE ABOVE Blog that she has started to help spread awareness for domestic violence.  RISE ABOVE is for educating others on abuse, giving light, advice, support and inspiration to keep going.  It is time we come together and put a stop to the violence!  https://www.facebook.com/InTheEndIWillRise/ 

Below are links to her full story 

https://people.com/crime/woman-ex-bit-off-lip-speaks-out-facebook-post/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=peoplemag&xid=socialflow_facebook_peoplemag&fbclid=IwAR0D7d_kdiFvAWol_3P7lFU18kULAxL8kJQs4iSQ7RuQlXNA_jbrOXXy1dw 

https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/domestic-violence-survivor-shares-story-to-help-others/article_12a5b39e-d66c-11e8-b978-cf2b0c94a4fa.html 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6294227/Woman-reveals-finally-closure-ex-boyfriend-BIT-lip.html?fbclid=IwAR03wVu5oQienySgO5cp_KTeZAUE9B937WXU2FdPcO_h-Rb0yQ4ComLzfYI