THE Charity, Essequibo Coast teen who was badly burnt and disfigured by her ex-boyfriend, now has a new lease on life after undergoing a life-changing surgery in the US recently.

Susan Culpepper spoke to the Guyana Chronicle in New York as she was preparing to return home to Guyana with her mother by her side. She is grateful for her speedy recovery following her surgeries which were a painful experience.
The sixteen-year-old was doused with gasoline and set on fire after leaving her abusive boyfriend and moving on with someone else.
Susan arrived in the US in a wheelchair and underwent skin-grafting surgeries and is now back on her feet.

“It was very rough after the surgery because I was in bed three days without moving and that was my second surgery; but it is getting better daily…. I was given great medication and in two weeks I am back on my feet and feeling great… I came here in a wheelchair and I am walking going home,” she said.
Her immediate focus now is a full recovery and to complete her education at the secondary level.

“My big dream is to finish high school and be somebody great in this life,” she said.
Susan is urging girls to leave abusive relationships.
“That is not right, he is not supposed to hit you. So just walk out of the relationship. For some of them it may hurt, but abuse is not right.”

Her mother Cherlyn Benn said the healing process from this ordeal is something she is always going through since she was in a state of shock and sadness for her daughter.
She is urging young girls to educate themselves and “walk away from abusive relationships and finish their schooling or get a job and be independent”.

Pandit Tillackdharry Seerattan who is president of the Shri Devi Mandir Global Humanitarian Foundation Inc believes that some young people are involved in relationships at an early age instead of educating themselves to become independent and wholesome individuals. He is advising young girls to place more emphasis on educating themselves and helping to eradicate domestic violence.

The Shri Devi Mandir Global Humanitarian Foundation Inc and Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) facilitated travel and treatment for Susan and her mother.