I Lost Both Arms And Legs While Taking Injection For Bigger Bottom – Apryl Michelle Brown
A mum of two told a magazine last night how her quest for a bigger bottom left her a quadruple amputee – and 24 hours from death
Apryl Michelle Brown had black-market silicone injections which turned out to be BATHROOM SEALANT
It left her in agony and led to her losing her hands and feet
As well as her buttocks
The 46-year-old former hairdresser blames “vanity” and wants to warn others of the terrible dangers of such illegal
treatments
Apryl said:
“I’ve paid a terrible price for vanity and I’ll
pay for the rest of my life
But I blame no one but myself
“I want to share my story to warn others about these so-called ‘quick fix’ surgeries.
“I didn’t realise the dangers
I thought it was a harmless injection that would give me the perfect bottom
But the reality was the silicone used wasn’t suitable for humans
It was in fact
Bathroom sealant only suitable for DIY
“My body had a massive allergic reaction to it which left me at the brink of death
“I was in so much agony that by that point
Dying would have been a release
The only way doctors could save my life was to amputate my buttocks
My hands and feet.” Teased as a child about her “pancake” bum
Apryl vowed to buy a shapelier one when she was older
She said
“I didn’t know if I wanted mine to look like Janet Jackson’s or J-Lo’s
“I didn’t even know how you could do it
I just wanted a new and bigger bottom
”The moment that changed her life came in 2004
When two women walked into her successful beauty salon to get their hair done
One of them ran “pumping parties” —
Where unqualified practitioners inject illegal silicone into “patients” at their home
Apryl from Los Angeles said
“One of the women told me how she had given bottom injections to the friend who was with her
“I remember thinking it was a miracle she’d walked into my life
Her friend showed me the work she’d had done and it looked great
“In a split second I made the decision that I was going to go to this woman and let her inject silicone into my behind”
That decision nearly killed me
Apryl paid the woman
Who had no medical background
Around £650 for two lots of injections
Doctors later discovered the substance used was industrial-grade silicone
Apryl admitted:
“I didn’t do any research
A combination of naivety
Misplaced trust and insecurity led me to take this disastrous decision
“I trusted her because she seemed so professional and I had no reason to think anything awful was going to happen
“She carried out the procedure in her daughter’s bedroom
She assessed my bottom and said
‘You’ll need three or four sessions to get the result you want’
“The first procedure took an hour
I remember asking
‘Is it meant to be so painful?’ and she said, ‘Yes’
It felt like it was squeezing through my nerves
” Within weeks Apryl returned for her second treatment
She said: “After going through it again I had an epiphany
As I left her house I thought
‘What am I doing?
I have no idea what she’s putting in my body’
“I never returned
But though I didn’t know it then
My life had already changed forever
”Over the next two years the area where she’d been injected became hard and the skin blackened
Apryl mum to daughters Danye 22 and Courtney 21
Said:
Within a few months of the second injection my buttocks began to harden
I knew something wasn’t right
But shame stopped me seeking medical help
As time went on it got worse as the skin blackened. I developed hard lumps
Then the searing pain started
I had to tell my doctor what I did
I was so ashamed.” Apryl spent the next four years in constant pain
Two surgeons told her it was too dangerous to remove the silicone
She said:
“I was in so much agony I became a regular at the hospital asking for medication to ease what was like a combination of a migraine
Childbirth and toothache localised in one area
In February 2011 a surgeon operated unsuccessfully
Apryl developed a hole in her buttocks — thought to be the trigger for an infection that in June was nearly fatal
She said: “I was 24 hours from dying
I didn’t think of leaving my family
It was a relief I’d finally be free of pain” Doctors put her in an induced coma for two
months while performing 27 surgeries — Starting with amputating her buttocks — and doing extensive skin grafts
She said: “They saved me but gangrene set into my hands and feet
I was brought out of sedation shortly before I became a quadruple amputee
“My hands looked like those of a dead person
I knew then I was going to lose them.” She added:
“At first you try to register your new limbs
The real comprehension comes when you start to live this new life
“I had dark times
I cried a sea of tears
I had to face the fact I’d lost my hands
Feet and buttocks because of complications from bottom injections
I was overwhelmed by shame and guilt…
All because I wanted a bigger bottom
“I was six months in hospital
By the time I was discharged I was determined to turn this terrible thing into something positive
“I decided to do a triathlon
I told myself if I could achieve that I could do anything
“I took my first steps again by the end of 2011
I built up to training six days a week
Learning to walk
Cycle then swim again using my residual
limbs
“I’d be crying in pain but I’d push through it
And six weeks I did it — completing a three-mile walk
Ten-mile cycle and a 150-meter swim “When I crossed that finishing line with my family cheering me on
I cried tears of joy.” She added:
“I haven’t sued or sought compensation
I just want to move on
There are things I miss dearly — I’ll never be able to do my girls’ hair or feel sand between my toes
“But I believe I survived to share my story
“I want to warn others of the dangers of black-market surgery
We were born whole
Perfect and complete
“My greatest message is we have to learn to love and accept ourselves for who we are”
What did you learn from this story?
33 Comments
Mckel Nana Asiedu
May 31, 2013 at 5:46 amIt,s so pathetic and feels sorry for her, i wish you the very best of luck and pray that all the ladies out there would learn something from that, God know how best you were created and no matter how you looks please accept it in good faith because you can never be me and i can never be you, stay bless.
ugonwa
May 31, 2013 at 5:48 amQuite sad and pathetic. Contemptment is great gain!
funmi
May 31, 2013 at 6:07 amI ve indeed learnt a great lesson to love myself just the way God created me and to build a firm self esteem
chizzy
May 31, 2013 at 6:16 amHmmmm! Vanity upon Vanity equals to Vanity.
Gloria
May 31, 2013 at 6:50 amThis is indeed a lesson of contentment! Sad though cos she paid dearly. Thank God for sparing her life. People lack contentment because of Envy and Greed. Fact is what you have but don’t appreciate, someone somewhere is dying to have.
wunmi
May 31, 2013 at 7:21 amGodliness with contentment is great gain. Love urself dearly and thank God 4 who and what u r.
peter
May 31, 2013 at 7:26 amthank God for his grace and mercy that has saved her let nigerian girls learn from tnat if
at all they have a learning mind God bless nigeria.
tisha
May 31, 2013 at 9:03 amI’m so frightened by her story, well almost.childhood criticsism that she wasn’t strong enough to grow past was her motivator, I guess. Before u judge her ignorance and lack of appreciation pls imagine u bought an eye pencil which turned out to be corrosive nd u lost ur eyes after a week of use? U wld regret tryin to line perfectly beautiful eyes. I empathise wit apryl nd I get d lesson she’s tryin to pass on. Waking up today whole nd hearty is more than enough nd it doesn’t really matter if my skins bn darkened by d african sun or my brow grows in disarray,or my lips r so full,or my bum a bit too small. I’m beautiful cos I’m whole nd strong nd I have a beautiful mind nd smile its more than enough. Nigerian women take not. Some of those bleaching products may cause premature aging or even allergic reactions that equal this. Love to y’all.
precious
May 31, 2013 at 9:30 amTo always be grateful to God for whom we are.
phil
May 31, 2013 at 10:03 amHi Steph,
Everybody is beautiful no matter your size and shape.
whether you have flat or big buttock, small or big boobs, bulging eyes, flat nose or pointed nose,whatever. be confident with your body. never permit anyone to say negative things relating to your body. constantly tell yourself ‘you are the most beautiful, you have sexiest body and you are unique. there’s no two you except ‘YOU’. Whatever natural endowment you have God gave you so be comfortable with your body.
biodun
May 31, 2013 at 10:34 amGod will surely lay his healing hands upon you luv u so much
Joy
May 31, 2013 at 10:59 amIs good to appreciate what God have given to you, just accept the way you are.
MENU
May 31, 2013 at 11:42 amWELL is good to learn from others mistake, such is life things are meant to happen and pass away. we should always seek for GOD wisdom not magic. magic exist and work for a while in life but wisdom never fade or stop but forever remain wisdom. nothing changed about life, we human changed life humanly. woman am GODly happy for u dat GOD still need u to do something very GODLY in life dat was why u leaved to tell the story. be closer to GOD woman, woman ur soul is prime to GOD. congrats.
takecare of yah self
Shurla
May 31, 2013 at 12:17 pmDear Apryl,
It is sad to read your story. Call it vanity or whatever we wish to, but the truth is all women experience some sort of dissatisfaction with their bodies and if and when finances permit would resort to cosmetic surgery. You are a brave and beautiful woman.May you continue to be strong. Love & Peace.
nkechi
May 31, 2013 at 12:25 pmIts quite pathetic!but I like her courage!she is a strong woman.I love you,Apryl.
M
May 31, 2013 at 12:46 pmWhen I was in school I had an accident, we were carrying cement blocks for the construction of latrine on campus and I slipped and fell and the eight inch block fell on my right leg.
My parents did know my leg got affected they were only looking at the injury sustained on my leg.
I live with this trauma, my left leg is bigger than my right leg.
I recently visited the hospital for an x-ray and i was told nothing was wrong with the bone but my leg keeps getting smaller.
Steph, it bothers me to extend that I don’t wear short clothes below my knee.
I’m even embarrass in front of my fiance though he doesn’t have problem with that. I decided to have a child by him and leave the relationship to be alone because of my condition.
From this story read, I’ve learned to accept the way things are and move on. I know one day God is going to heal me.
Thanks so much for sharing this story, it has changed my life.
JOMBO. UCHE
May 31, 2013 at 1:42 pmLadies wont learn,it. Is such a sad story,the problem is that most ladies are majoring on the minor aspect of their lives ,forgeting that there character is the major aspect of their live
Real men are not just after the physical beauty .
Edeh Ella
May 31, 2013 at 2:54 pmThis word if full of evil! Your story is so touching and I fell 4 u deelply, but 1thing I like most is d courage u have 2 share this life saving story bcus it can save billions of lifes. Believe me, thr is nothing 2 hard 4 our God 2 do, he will visit u soon. People be wish!
Esther amaka
May 31, 2013 at 3:10 pmThis shud serve as a lesson who love artificial body & also black market surgerer. 1 shud appreciate what he/she has.
VIKY
May 31, 2013 at 3:28 pmQUE PENA POR LA EXPERIENCIA ,OJALA SEAS LA ULTIMA PERSONA QUE PASA POR ESTA DESGRACIA ,ESTAS DE ENHORABUENA,//ESTAS VIVA PARA CONTARLO// MUCHA SUERTE,UN ABRAZO,VIKY.
Chioma
May 31, 2013 at 4:15 pmThank you for sharing
Sylvia
May 31, 2013 at 4:32 pmBeauty is actually within and not without. God saved you for a purpose.
celecia samuel
May 31, 2013 at 5:11 pmalways satisfy what Jesus our creater give to us
therese bright
May 31, 2013 at 7:10 pmI have learn never to abuse God’s creation cos if we dont accept ourselves the way we are trying to look like one big star as she said she was trying to be J.LO we gonna end ourselves in a pool of water where no one will be there to rescue us
by so doing we will just drawn n feel the pains by ourselves.APRYL i wish u the best in all ur endevours.
Alan
May 31, 2013 at 7:41 pmyou are inspring
blueprint cjay
May 31, 2013 at 9:45 pmjust appreciate who you are and be thankful to God and work hard towards the good things you want to do and be like..
john tari
June 1, 2013 at 2:10 pmindeed this is a lesson for all young ladies who does nt appreciate the work of God in their life, most especially models.
Princess Akinyele Vera
June 2, 2013 at 12:00 pmI thank God for how he had created me and appreciate him forever. Is a touching story and a learn to others.
jamilatu
June 3, 2013 at 3:29 pmoh Allah i thank u 4 the way u created me and am really grateful cos my fiance luvs me the way i am.
wesbrown ken
June 4, 2013 at 10:30 amMy dear, i feel so pity, so sad, how you will be wondering your feature out fit during your medication processes with professional doctors, DEEP THINKING, the PAINS, facing your family and even financially.
I know that you must have suffered so much in the hands of people who does not understand your feelings and reasons. well, thank God that your still alive today SHARING YOUR STORY WITH SOME FRIENDS WHO LEARN MORE AND FEEL YOU.
i give God thanks because the most important thing is giving God all praises and thanksgiving know matter your situation in life.
finally i thank God for my life
cathy
June 4, 2013 at 3:46 pmcontentment, appreciation people should learn more of it including my humble self
Chichi
June 5, 2013 at 9:09 pmWe learn alot from this stoy and accept ourself the way we are because you cannot be me and i cannot be you.in any condition we find ourself in dis life,we should give thanks to the lord.
James James
June 16, 2013 at 9:09 amThis story is so specific for the ladies. You should learn to be who you are, God knows why he created you that way. Panadol advert said it all “if it’s not panadol, it’s not the same thing as panadol”. Ladies be careful. This is a food for thought and taught.