Category: <span>Necrotizing Fasciitis</span>

Published September 5, 2020 by

Teacher runs race, reclaims her life – San Antonio Express-News

Lisa Hunt didn’t win the Rock ’n’ Roll San Antonio Half Marathon on Sunday, but then again, she’s not dead either. That was a possibility for the 44-year-old teacher back in 2012, a few weeks after she ran in the 2011 version of the full marathon. You and I might view Hunt’s journey after that as either a mysterious tragedy that altered Hunt’s life forever or as intangible proof the human spirit cannot be destroyed.

Read about Lisa Hunt here: Teacher runs race, reclaims her life – San Antonio Express-News.… Read the rest

Media Coverage Necrotizing Fasciitis

Published February 10, 2017 by

Group A Streptococcus infections, including ‘flesh-eating disease,’ attributed to presence of 2 toxins — ScienceDaily

This is a brief, fact-packed article on the pathology of the flesh-eating bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 to 1,100 cases of necrotizing fasciitis caused by group A streptococcus have occurred yearly since 2010. Although the disease primarily affects the young and old and those with underlying chronic conditions, it may also develop in healthy individuals. Transmission occurs person-to-person, many times through a break in the skin.

Source: Cytotoxins contribute to virulence of deadly epidemic bacterial infections: Severity of group A Streptococcus infections, including ‘flesh-eating disease,’ attributed to presence of 2 toxins — ScienceDaily… Read the rest

Diagnosis Media Coverage

Published January 15, 2017 by

Toddler Infected By Necrotizing Fasciitis During Chickenpox

A toddler almost died after a bout of chickenpox turned into a horrific flesh-eating infection that left gaping wounds in his neck. Charlie Cave, from Kempston, Bedfordshire, was just 13-months-old when he developed the early stages of necrotising fasciitis.

Charlie survived, but I have been unable to find any updates on his condition. These kinds of articles, although often sensational, generally contain some helpful information about diagnosing, treating, and recovering from necrotizing fasciitis. So, we will continue to spread the word.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3727958/Toddler-died-bout-chickenpox-turned-horrific-flesh-eating-necrotising-fasciitis-destroyed-little-boy-s-neck.html#ixzz4Vssf5Pnc

Also see: Toddler Gets Infected By Necrotizing Fasciitis During Chickenpox And It Almost Killed Him… Read the rest

Diagnosis Media Coverage

Published October 8, 2016 by

“I can’t” Isn’t An Option

For those of us who have survived something like the flesh-eating bacteria or who are living with a debilitating disease or physical condition, it’s good to get a fresh perspective from someone like Cindy Martinez. She is:

a Gwinnett County woman [who] simply doesn’t have the words “I can’t” in her vocabulary. Source: Flesh-eating bacteria survivor inspires others – Story | WAGA

These kinds of stories can, at first, seem a bit discouraging for someone like me, who will never be able to accomplish the feats that Cindy has. Others with multiple amputations may just want to give up after reading an article like this.… Read the rest

Life After NF Media Coverage

Published August 31, 2016 by

Detroit Boy Loses Leg to Flesh-eating Bacteria | Fox News

A 12-year-old Michigan boy is battling illness after being infected by flesh-eating bacteria that caused him to lose most of his left leg.

Dakarai Moore, Jr. was an active child until August 11, when he developed a fever and a greenish-colored rash on the bottom of his feet…

Please keep Dakarai Moore in your thoughts and prayers. You can read about him here: Detroit boy loses leg after contracting flesh-eating bacteria | Fox News… Read the rest

Diagnosis Media Coverage

Published April 25, 2016 by

Rower Tries for Para Olympics after Flesh-Eating Bacteria| WRIC

It’s great to see someone battle back after their ordeal with necrotizing fasciitis and a brush with death.

Haxton had been an elite rower in high school at Upper Arlington and for months after his illness, Blake had no plans to try adaptive rowing. But with some urging, he discovered the sport and quickly realized he was a natural. He was soon among the best in America.

We share a similar perspective, which may come from extended time unconscious or in a coma: the ordeal is worse for family and friends, watching this disease devour us in real time, while we are “off somewhere.”… Read the rest

Life After NF Media Coverage

Published March 30, 2016 by

Back To The Blog

Well, it’s been over a month since my last post. A few things have conspired to keep me away from writing.

First, a friend of the family was hit by necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating bacteria. It’s so rare, I never thought I would know someone, personally, who would be stalked by this deadly foe. He is a young man, received a timely bit of advice from his pharmacist and a quick diagnosis by his first surgeon and, then, he was off to an excellent hospital. He’s come through with flying colors. Today, he just learned that his grafts had taken very well and he’ll be going home Friday, after a month in the hospital.… Read the rest

Art • Design • Culture Baha'i Necrotizing Fasciitis

Published March 30, 2016 by

The Impossible Just Became Possible

I used to tell people, jokingly, that I spared them from necrotizing fasciitis because, statistically, it’s so rare that they will only meet one person with this disease in their lifetime. Well, I can’t say that again as a personal family/friend has just passed through the worst of a bout with that nasty, cruel bacteria. His elbow and arm were affected and he has made it through the worst. It looks like the infection is under control and his surgeon has just grafted his affected area and the grafts took. So, he’ll be going home this Friday.

He’s pretty beat up, but rallying back.… Read the rest

Diagnosis Treatment

Published February 6, 2016 by

Wound Care Specialist

Back in October, I wrote about an injury to my reconstructed left leg that left a hole over my superior and inferior retinaculam (top of my foot, at the ankle), which revealed my tendon, sliding back and forth, as I moved my foot (shivers). As a necrotizing fasciitis survivor, one becomes something of a wound care specialist and, though I’ve gotten along treating myself for nearly 20 years, this one required more expertise than I have.

So, I visited my general practitioner to get a referral to a plastic surgeon, because I felt a graft may be required. But, the wound began coming together by that time and my GP was able to really help it out with some minor surgery in his office.… Read the rest

Life After NF Our Story Treatment

Published December 23, 2015 by

What Can We Possibly Gain From Pain?

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with a friend, who lives in constant pain from a degenerative back ailment. We were discussing how often God blesses us through the curse: our fallen, broken, mortal bodies. If Jeremy Linneman is correct, 40 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain. I’m one of them. Here’s why chronic pain and the suffering that goes along with it can be a gift from The Paradox of Chronic Pain:

In this, chronic pain is a perfect illustration of the Christian life. It is a constant and demanding journey; it is supremely complex and often seemingly meaningless; and there is no cure for the hardship or hope for restoration in this world itself.

… Read the rest

Life After NF

Published November 28, 2015 by

A Lifelong Process

This week I’ll be heading back to the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center to consult with a plastic surgeon on the skin ulcer over the tendon on my foot. A couple weeks ago, I was leaning toward a full-thickness skin graft to cover the area and get some more tissue over the tendon. Now, the wound is healing well and I’ll be surprised if the plastics man will suggest a graft. It’s looking good.

For those of us with extensive injuries from necrotizing fasciitis, this is part of a life-long process that can often be discouraging or downright depressing.… Read the rest

Life After NF Treatment

Published November 28, 2015 by

Boy Battling Flesh-eating Bacteria Going Home

Here’s another inspirational story about a young man, who just wouldn’t quit.

Giancarlo Gil, 14, began feeling sick Sept. 19, and doctors later had to amputate his right leg up to his hip to stem the spread of necrotizing fasciitis. He underwent 11 surgeries and was listed in critical condition until late last month, according to the hospital.

Source: Boy battling flesh-eating bacteria close to going home | FOX5 San Diego – San Diego news, weather, traffic, sports from KSWB… Read the rest

Diagnosis Life After NF Media Coverage Treatment

Published November 15, 2015 by

Skin Graft?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a wound I have on my tendon. I visited my GP and he did a bit of minor surgery and wound care on the hole over my tendon. It’s looking really good. But, he’s consulting with a plastic surgeon to see if I may need a full-thickness graft over the area. If I do have surgery, it would be the first since I left the hospital back in 1998. I had amazing results in the reconstruction of my leg and didn’t have to return to cover problem areas or releases on the keloid scarring around my joints.… Read the rest

Life After NF Treatment

Published October 25, 2015 by

Torn Flesh, Rejoicing, Giving Thanks, and Praying

IMG_1133Denise has always wanted to visit the garden island of Kauai, in the Hawaiian Islands. So, we flew over earlier this month. I thought I would try paddle-board surfing while we were there and Hanalei Bay is ideally suited for a first timer. However, a day or so before we went north, I put on my fins to swim around Salt Pond Beach Park near Port Allen. When I left the water and pulled off my bootie, I found that the scarring over the tendon at my ankle had torn and I was trailing a lot of blood. This had never happened before while swimming, body-surfing or sponge-riding. … Read the rest

Christianity • Religion Necrotizing Fasciitis

flesh-eating bacteria necrotizing fasciitis

Published October 25, 2015 by

Overcoming Necrotizing Fasciitis: It’s A Process

IMG_1133Surviving the flesh-eating bacteria is an ongoing process. Once you make it past the initial 72 hours and find yourself still in the land of the living, dealing with the sometimes devastating effects can be challenging, whether the wounds are great or small. Often, I’ll post stories about those who have overcome incredible loss from this disease and, in light of their challenges, I see my wounds as being on the small end of the spectrum.

Denise has always wanted to visit the garden island of Kauai, in the Hawaiian Islands. So, we flew over there earlier this month. I thought I would try paddle-board surfing while we were there and Hanalei Bay is ideally suited for a first timer.… Read the rest

Life After NF Treatment What Is Necrotizing Fasciitis

Published June 3, 2015 by

Expert: Flesh-Eating Bacteria A Rare Danger 

I thought this was a short, informative article to kick off the summer with. And, please notice that I’m leading off with this pull quote:

These infections are extremely rare,” said Amy Kirby, an assistant research professor at Emory University’s Center for Global Safe Water. There were only 88 cases of necrotizing fasciitis recorded in the U.S in 2013.

Whatever you do, please don’t give in to fear. It’s important to remember that, although the bacteria is common, necrotizing fasciitis and other diseases resulting from exposure to these bacteria are rare and, to some degree, preventable. If you will be swimming this summer, as I will be, remember to bathe afterwards, clean and disinfect any wounds you may have.… Read the rest

Media Coverage Resources

prevention wound care

Published May 21, 2015 by

Portland Dad: I survived flesh-eating bacteria

Diagnosis Life After NF Media Coverage

Published May 18, 2015 by

New Experiences, New Challenges and New Frontiers

This past week was the celebration of the 17th anniversary of our battle with necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating bacteria. I was moved to remember and reflect on some of the new and different experiences the disease brought with it. Here are just a few highlights:

  • I had the blessing of saying my final farewell to three of four family members and survived to remember it, urging them to look to Jesus! I hope to be able to do the same the next time around. Camille was sorta freaked out, because she had finals and wondered if she should go to school or stay with me.
… Read the rest

Christianity • Religion Necrotizing Fasciitis

Published April 13, 2015 by

Necrotizing fasciitis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes

This is a very informative resource for those concerned about the Flesh-eating bacteria.

Necrotizing fasciitis: A severe, progressive skin infection which causes progressive destruction of skin and underlying tissue. It is caused by certain bacteria and has a high mortality rate… Necrotizing fasciitis (occasionally described by the media as “the flesh-eating bacteria”) destroys muscles, fat…

More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Necrotizing fasciitis is available at Necrotizing fasciitis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes – RightDiagnosis.com.… Read the rest

Diagnosis Resources Treatment What Is Necrotizing Fasciitis

Published April 11, 2015 by

Aimee Copeland Continues Her Recovery

You may have read about Aimee Copeland back in May of 2012, when she contracted Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF) from an injury involving a homemade zip line. She suffered overwhelming sepsis and multiple amputations. Here is a very encouraging and inspiring update:  The Evolution of Aimee Copeland | Emory Medicine Magazine | Emory University.

Actually, it’s a fairly detailed story that covers different aspects of her experience, focusing on what it’s like to live a different  sort of life, post-NF. There’s a bit of science here, too, which points to the benefits of living in these times, when victims of devastating events can return to a normal life.… Read the rest

Life After NF

Published April 8, 2015 by

A Maniac Set Her On Fire — 2 Years Later, She Removes Her Mask

When I saw this woman in her Jobst garments and mask, it brought back a flood of memories. Many victims of necrotizing fasciitis are treated in burn units or go through some kind of plastic surgery and reconstruction. For skin grafts, Jobst pressure garments act as a second skin, flattening the scars, aiding the vascular system, and helping the sub derma to recover.

I wore them from the tips of the toes on my left leg, like a bicycle short on my right leg and all the way up to my chest in a “tank top” style suit. I had some serious keloid scarring at the donor sites on my rib cage.… Read the rest

Life After NF Media Coverage Treatment

Published April 8, 2015 by

Get The T-Shirt and Support nnff.org!

NF T ShirtAre you a necrotizing fasciitis survivor? Then you can be a traveling billboard for the National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation and support them financially, at the same time. I got my t-shirt last week and it fits just right. Order yours here.… Read the rest

Life After NF Media Coverage Resources

Published February 6, 2015 by

The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation

So, The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation came up with this cool graphic. I like it – I see God as the Superpower behind my survival. But, he’s more than a power, He’s a person and we have seen His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

Anyway, why quibble? Maybe you don’t believe in God. But, those of us who have survived NF are just grateful to be alive and thankful for the caring, skilled hands of the physicians and caregivers who worked so hard to save us. We are also blessed by the support and prayers of family and friends — those other superheroes.… Read the rest

Life After NF

Published August 22, 2014 by

Am I Presentable?

Do you know of a school, church or other organization that may want to hear the harrowing story of how one man was blind-sided by the flesh-eating bacteria and lived to tell about it? I’ve shared our story a number of times, including an annual gig in science classes at our local middle school during “bacteria week.” More than once I was followed the next day by that gripping video drama, Killer Kitchens. Well, I do that sort of thing and, if I speak to your group, I promise to be clean shaven, appropriately dressed, and I’ll bring a version of the tale that is relevant and engaging.… Read the rest

Our Story

Published May 23, 2012 by

Surviving A Flesh-eating Disease – CNN.com

There are many strains of bacteria that cause the flesh-eating disease necrotizing fasciitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are about 9,000 to 11,500 cases of group A streptococcus bacteria, one cause of necrotizing fasciitis, each year. Of them, only 6% to 7% are invasive. More commonly, the bacteria results in infections such as strep throat or a skin infection called impetigo.

The CDC says that about 25% of patients who have necrotizing fasciitis die. Canada has 90 to 200 cases per year, with a fatality rate of 20% to 30%, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

… Read the rest

Media Coverage