Carolyn Thomas, a 34-year-old former track star was shot in the face by an abusive ex-boyfriend who also killed her mother. She wears a mask-like bandage to protect her from the stares of those who are unfamiliar with the tragedy of her past.

Adjusting her trachea tube, Carolyn Thomas cleans it constantly in order to breathe comfortably and to talk.

Carolyn Thomas reacts as prosecutor Crawford Long displays a .44 Magnum for her to identify during the trial of Terrence Kelly in Waco in April 2005. Terrence used the gun to shoot Thomas in the face.

Terrence Kelly leaves court April 15, 2005, in Waco. He was convicted of shooting Carolyn Thomas in the face and killing her mother in 2003. He is serving a life sentence.

With half her face shot off, it will take several surgeries to reconstruct her facial skull.

Doctors constructed several noses attempting to match it to the original nose. Carolyn chose the one she felt closely resembled her original nose.

She is the face of domestic violence. She travels the country sharing her story, teaching women, warning women, empowering women.