Gráinne Kealy, a young woman from Ireland, was just 22 when a simple, comfortable choice changed her life forever. She was riding in her boyfriend’s jeep on a cold winter day in 2006. Like so many passengers do, she lifted her feet onto the dashboard, thinking nothing of it.

Moments later, the jeep hit black ice.

The airbags exploded open at nearly 200 miles per hour, slamming her knees into her face. Every major bone in the center of her face shattered.
The turning point of her story comes with her own haunting words:
“Not wanting to look at your own face is difficult.”

Her injuries were so severe that surgeons had to remove her entire forehead, leaving her with a brain injury, lost teeth, and a long, painful recovery. For two years, Gráinne lived without a forehead until doctors finally reconstructed one using ceramic in 2009.

Her physical pain was immense—but the emotional pain was worse. Strangers stared. Children whispered. Mirrors became her enemy. Yet she held on.

Today, she uses her experience to warn others. She posts photos, speaks openly, and begs passengers not to rest their feet on dashboards—especially as she still sees celebrities glamorizing the pose online.
“It breaks my heart,” she says. “They don’t realize how dangerous it is.”

The response to her story has been overwhelming. People from around the world have thanked her for saving lives through her honesty. Some comments are cruel, but many more are kind—and full of gratitude.

Gráinne’s message stays with you long after you hear it:
One small habit can change everything. Protect yourself while you still can.