A woman who lost her entire forehead in a tragic accident is issuing a stark warning to others.
Gráinne Kealy, from Ireland, is sharing her story to stop others from having the same experience.
It all began in 2006 when the then 22-year-old was sat in a common but dangerous position while in the car.
When Kealy’s boyfriend’s Jeep skidded on black ice, she had her feet propped up on the dashboard.
When the airbags deployed, the force sent her knees crashing into her face, shattering nearly every bone.
Recalling the traumatic incident in an interview, Kealy shared:
“At some point, I decided I’d be more comfortable with my feet on the dashboard. When the airbag deployed on impact, my knees were slammed into my face at high speed. Airbags inflate at around 200 mph.”
The crash left Kealy with a minor brain injury and devastating facial trauma, requiring surgeons to remove her forehead. She also suffered a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and lost two teeth.
Fortunately, her boyfriend escaped with only minor injuries.
Kealy reflects on her journey:
“My recovery was long and at times brutal—not just the physical pain, but the mental and emotional toll was often overwhelming.
Not wanting to look at my own face was hard enough, but seeing people’s reactions was something I never fully got used to.
I wasn’t just adjusting to a new reality; I also had to come to terms with not having a forehead. Even now, it amazes me that I lived without one for two years. Sometimes, it doesn’t even feel real.”
Finally, in 2009, Kealy received a ceramic forehead implant.
Kealy has decided to share her story in the aftermath of the incident. She hopes that by sharing photos of her injuries others will think twice about putting their feet on the dashboard.
The mom tells: “I was tired of seeing people doing the same thing while I was in traffic but also online and in movies or TV programs.
“It scared me to think of someone else doing what I did and ending up like me. I fully understand that it is an obvious thing.”
She adds: “It breaks my heart when I see some celebrities posting a photo of themselves online with their feet on the dashboard. They have millions and millions of followers.
“The heartbreaking part about it is they don’t realize what they are doing. They don’t lost realize how dangerous their actions are.”
The response to Kealy’s story has been overwhelming.
She shares:
“People from all over the world have reached out to thank me for sharing my experience.
I want passengers to understand that their responsibility goes beyond just wearing a seatbelt. They need to give themselves the best possible chance of surviving a car accident.”
While she has encountered some negative comments, Kealy says the kindness and support she’s received far outweigh them.
She adds: “Sharing my story on social media has been eye-opening. As I said, I’ve seen thousands of mean and rude comments about myself but I’ve also seen thousands of kind and caring comments.
“I love it when I see people tagging people they know who put their feet on the dashboard. It gives me hope that my warning is being heard.”
