On Wednesday’s episode of Loose Women, Katie Piper made a courageous comeback to the show by sharing an update on her health following surgery.
Following an acid attack in 2008, the 40-year-old presenter suffered burns, life-altering injuries, and partial blindness in one eye. Since then, she has had multiple surgeries to repair her face and vision. Her left eye recently had tarsorrhaphy surgery, which entails sewing together sections of the upper and lower eyelids to completely shut the eye.
According to Katie, the goals of the procedure are to save her eye, stop a perforation, and prevent total loss.
Host Kaye Adams welcomed Katie back
Host Kaye Adams welcomed Katie back on Wednesday’s show, mentioning that she had been gone for five or six weeks.
Katie described the tarsorrhaphy procedure in detail, stating that it is a scheduled operation carried out in a theater where the eye is either completely or partially sutured. She mentioned that these procedures can be mentally taxing and that they occasionally bring up memories of the events that preceded her injuries.
“Some people may be familiar with it; it’s typically encountered when someone has a corneal condition. I’ve had a lot of difficulties with my eye over the past year and a half, and closing the eye creates the best conditions for healing. I prefer not to think about it too much because there are always others in more trying circumstances.”
Kaye Adams praised Katie for her resilience
The 60-year-old Kaye insisted, “Katie, you never let anything get to you! What makes you so amazing is your extraordinary resilience.” “It’s been pretty painful, so having it stitched up is a relief because it’s much more comfortable,” Katie continued. It will remain this way for approximately a year, after which I hope to have it opened once more. This is not a permanent situation.”
Katie said of the immediate post-op period, “It was kind of like being pregnant because you feel a little lightheaded and queasy.” When the other eye is trying to function, it cannot be easy. There is some pulling at first, but it eventually stops, and you become accustomed to it. I’m actually fine—I had the surgery a month ago, and I’m still wearing a six-inch high heel!”
“I guess I did go through the experience of both my eyes being damaged at a young age,” the celebrity said, reflecting on how she’s had to be mindful of her health and protect it from a young age. Thus, I’m always incredibly appreciative and joyful to be here and see all these wonderful people.”
What other events have occurred on Loose Women?
Former Coronation Street star Victoria Ekanoye opened up about her experience with breast cancer and explained why she decided to participate in The Real Full Monty this year in a recent episode.
In 2021, Ekanoye found a lump while nursing her son, and she believes he saved her life. The woman said, “I really think that having Theo saved my life. It brought the lump to the surface, so I might not have noticed if I hadn’t nursed him. It became visible to the naked eye at one point.”
“It’s natural; you’ve just had a baby, there are so many changes in your body hormonally, and you assume those changes are due to being pregnant or breastfeeding,” the Death in Paradise star continued.
That was what I really wanted to happen. But I was really kidding myself because I’m the ninth person in three generations to get cancer of any kind, and I’m the fifth member of my family to get breast cancer.” “Additionally, I support Prevent Breast Cancer.”
