April Brown was once a cosmetologist, fashion designer, and working mother of two daughters.
She's now a multiple amputee. She says hospitalizations after unlicensed cosmetic procedures led to life-threatening infections.
Doctors removed her limbs last year to save her life.
"I got the butt implants five years ago," said Brown. "For five years, I lived in pain. Excruciating pain."
April Brown won't identify the unlicensed practitioner who injected her with silicone. She will only say it was somewhere near Western and Manchester. Brown told NBCLosAngeles.com that her own lack of self-esteem issues are mostly to blame.
"They call it butt injections," she says. "These things are done at pumping parties. They call it medical grade silicone, but a lot of it is industrial grade silicone."
Brown's case recalls similar incidents in Florida.
But Brown feels she's a survivor, empowered by the words of loved ones who feared she would die.
"We don't validate each other," she says. "We really don't know how our friends feel about us, unless we have very expressive friends."
Brown envisions a new career as a motivational speaker. Meanwhile, loving daughters Courtney and Dayne are grateful she'll be home for Mother's Day.