HOPEDALE, Ohio -- The injuries Connie Culp suffered on a late night in September 2004 are permanent. Her face is disfigured and she is blind after being shot in the face. By looking at her, the injuries are obvious. The life-changing shot shattered her jaw, cheek and nose.

It all happened during an attempted murder-suicide outside the OK Corral in Hopedale, Ohio. Culp's husband Thomas, shot her in the face from just eight feet way, then turned the gun on himself. Both survived.

Now, years later, Culp is back in her home adjusting to a new lifestyle. After being released from the hospital, she spent time in two personal care homes and underwent 20 surgeries to repair her face, but she still can’t smell or smile.

Now that she’s back at home, she has a new friend: Baby Girl, her dog that helps her around. She’s also learning a lot on her own. She’s taught herself braille, plus has gadgets like talking calculators and special serving cups to help her get through the day.

Culp doesn’t like anything to get in her way.

“Keep motivated; don’t sleep your life away -- that could have happened. I could be depressed. I’m not. It takes more than a gunshot to take my (explicit) out," she said.

When it came to talking about the night of the shooting and the man who did it, Culp didn’t hold back much.

“Do you ever have directed frustration or anger is what I’m trying to ask,” said NEWS9’s Shelby Zarotney.

“Oh, yeah. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t. I forgive him, but I have to go on you know?” answered Culp.

“There will be a day when he’s released from prison,” Zarotney said, but was quickly stopped.

“We don’t want to go there, OK?” replied Culp.

During Thomas Culp’s sentencing in April 2005, she not only alluded to the fact that she will forgive, she also said she would possibly take her husband back. When asked that question this time, she answered, “I don’t regret any of that. I’ll always love him. He was my first love.”

Thomas Culp remains in jail and isn’t expected to be released until 2012, when his seven-year sentence will be complete.