Survivor: “I shot myself in the head – but it led me to love”

After living through a suicide attempt, Christen Mcginnes says she’s looking forward to the future

‘In spite of my injuries, we really hit it off’

Within a year, Christen lost her job, her best friend to cancer, and her boyfriend left her. Unable to see a way out of her despair, Christen, 45, pointed a revolver underneath her chin and pulled the trigger. Miraculously, she survived – but her facial bones, teeth and part of her brain were blown away.

Now, seven years on and 49 painful surgeries later, Christen bravely tells Closer she’s happier than ever and reveals she’s found love with Dave Jones, 43.

Christen, from Virginia, USA, says: “I was so low I thought shooting myself was the only way out – I never dreamed I’d survive. When I saw my face afterwards I looked like a monster and wished I’d died.

“But I’m so grateful I survived. While recovering in hospital I met the man of my dreams and now I realise I have so much to live for.”

AN EMPTY LIFE

In 2009, Christen’s life began to unravel. She was made redundant from her data specialist job after 18 years, lost her best friend to cancer, her beloved dog died and then her boyfriend of three years ended their relationship.

“Almost overnight my world fell apart,” she recalls. “Everything I cared about disappeared and life felt empty and meaningless”

Over the next year, Christen started drinking heavily. Then one night in October 2010 she decided to take her own life. She recalls: “I couldn’t see a way out. I took a revolver my ex had bought me for protection and decided to kill myself.

“I didn’t want the bullet to go through me and into the ceiling as my neighbour above had a dog I adored and I was petrified of harming either of them. Instead I went out on to my balcony and, with shaking hands, I pulled the trigger. There was an explosion, but I felt nothing and then everything went black.”

Christen’s flatmate, alerted by the noise, called for an ambulance and she was rushed to hospital. Christen’s injuries were so catastrophic, she was in a coma for three weeks.

Christen explains: “When I came round I was in incredible pain, but had no recollection of anything. Then my dad told me what had happened and I instantly remembered. He said I’d lost my right eye, two thirds of my teeth and a third of my tongue. I was horrified.”

Christen’s life-changing injuries meant she needed a tracheotomy to breathe and a feeding tube into her stomach.

She recalls: “The pain was indescribable. Five weeks later I saw my face for the first time. It was grossly misshapen and I was in shock – I couldn’t even cry.”

Despite her horrific injuries, Christen gradually began to feel grateful to be alive. She explains: “So many friends and family came to hospital to support me. I realised I had so much to live for.”

Christen’s since undergone intensive surgery, using breast tissue, to rebuild her shattered face. She says: “For the first two years I couldn’t eat or speak and had to communicate with a white board. Then in 2012 I had my tracheotomy removed and learned to talk again. I’ve had an artificial eye fitted and dental implants to replace my teeth.”

AN EXCITING FUTURE

And as she recovered, Christen – who is training to be a nurse – found love with boyfriend Dave, a computer studies student.

She recalls: “One of the nurses – who was a friend of Dave’s – introduced us one night and we grew close during my recovery. In spite of my injuries, he saw something in me and we hit it off. He makes me so happy and we’re even talking about marriage. We don’t live together yet, but we’re planning to once we’ve saved up enough money.

“I’m so glad I survived – I found the love of my life and I’ve got so many exciting things ahead.”