More than two weeks after her 20-year-old daughter caused drastic injuries to herself under the influence of a controlled substance, Katy Tompkins remains overwhelmed but committed to speaking out about the addiction that led to this point in hopes that it might prevent the same pain in another family.
Kaylee Muthart was reportedly seen outside of a church in Anderson, South Carolina, earlier this month clawing out her own eyes with her hands.
As WIVB reported, Tompkins said her daughter admitted to using methamphetamine months prior to the incident, speculating that the drugs Muthart used that day were likely laced with some other chemical that induced hallucinations.
As her daughter remains hospitalized and permanently blinded, Tompkins went into some detail about the toll this experience has taken on her family.
“That was a struggle,” she said in a recent People interview. “I can’t even explain that feeling when I found out, it was horrifying. Complete terror.”
While Tompkins said she was “thankful” her daughter survived, she said it was an unavoidable sign that “something was wrong with her.”
Tompkins recalled thinking the day before the incident — her birthday — that she should have her daughter “committed” in a last-ditch effort to save Muthart from her addiction.
“But I was too late,” she said.
Doctors agree that she likely ingested methamphetamine laced with another drug, which reports indicate made her believe she was living in an “upside down” world in which she had to “sacrifice her eyes” to ascend to heaven.
Although Muthart is progressing, her mother said she is in store for a long recovery.
“She’s getting all different kinds of treatment, but she’s going to have to relearn everything,” Tompkins said. “It’s like she’s almost starting life over again.”
Now the young woman is hoping to receive prosthetic eyes matching her natural eyes’ green color. She is also expected to need the assistance of a service dog, for which her family has started an online fundraiser to cover associated expenses.
Both mother and daughter have found a glimmer of hope in an otherwise tragic situation, Tompkins said. They are both dedicated to sharing her story, hopefully preventing other individuals from making similar mistakes.
The mother admits she still has not fully come to terms with the change, noting her daughter will live with her when she is discharged from the hospital. Nevertheless, it is her daughter who is giving her strength through this trail.
“It’s weird to say, but she uplifts me right now and she’s the one that can’t see,” Tompkins said. “That’s just the kind of person she is. I’m thankful. It’s a horrible thing, but I’m still thankful because God spared her life.”
[Featured image: Kaylee Muthart/GoFundMe]
