FL - Woman Gives Birth - Winds Up Quadruple Amputee

[Jeana (DP)]

thanks and I agree ...
However it is somewhat possible that the hospital did follow procedure and she still got sick??
I question it because I know this version of strep is remarkably viriluant and hard to fight. In Light of that I wonder if there really is any fault?

Sure its possible. Sometimes there is no "fault," or no one to blame. We're growing bateria that's impossible to kill. As someone else posted above, we're taking too many antibiotics. This woman's lawsuit is just going to have to run its course and its a long one. The good news is that she's alive.

 

[Paladin]

My aunt died a couple of years ago from flesh eating bacteria. She had vascular surgery shortly before she was infected (we're sure she was infected during or after surgery). She went back into the hospital at 6 p.m. with flu like symptoms including a very high fever. She was told within a short period that she was going to die. She was dead at around 2 a.m. It killed her very quickly from the time she was diagnosed.

The sad thing is that she was terrified of dying and fought and fought it...she even tried to get out of her hospital bed...as if, if she got up out of that bed, she would be ok.

I'm sorry to hear that. That must have been terrifying for her to tell her she was going to die within hours.

 

[IdahoMom]

I'm sorry to hear that. That must have been terrifying for her to tell her she was going to die within hours.

It WAS terrifying to her. You could see it in her face. She looked at me at one point and said "Help me get out of this bed" . It was horrible. I asked her if she wanted me to say a prayer with her and she vigorously shook her head "no". It was obvious she was thinking that I wanted to say a prayer with her because she was dying. The nurses brought in a special mattress for her to make her comfortable and they kept giving her more pain meds. I cannot imagine going into the ER with flu symptoms and being told that I would probably die that night!!! UGH.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

It WAS terrifying to her. You could see it in her face. She looked at me at one point and said "Help me get out of this bed" . It was horrible. I asked her if she wanted me to say a prayer with her and she vigorously shook her head "no". It was obvious she was thinking that I wanted to say a prayer with her because she was dying. The nurses brought in a special mattress for her to make her comfortable and they kept giving her more pain meds. I cannot imagine going into the ER with flu symptoms and being told that I would probably die that night!!! UGH.

I'm so sorry IdahoMom. That's so very sad. You're a strong lady!!! :blowkiss:

 

[IdahoMom]

I'm so sorry IdahoMom. That's so very sad. You're a strong lady!!! :blowkiss:

Thanks. It was awful, knowing she wasn't at peace with dying and that she was so afraid.
It's the kind of experience that gives us more depth for having been there.
I just wish I could have somehow eased the transition for her. She loved my family so much- she thought my kids walked on water and she treated them that way. I wanted to return the love to her in her most vulnerable time.
It was one of those life altering experiences that make you step back and take stock and consider what is most important, and think "how do I want to live?"
ugh....soooo sad.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Thanks. It was awful, knowing she wasn't at peace with dying and that she was so afraid.
It's the kind of experience that gives us more depth for having been there.
I just wish I could have somehow eased the transition for her. She loved my family so much- she thought my kids walked on water and she treated them that way. I wanted to return the love to her in her most vulnerable time.
It was one of those life altering experiences that make you step back and take stock and consider what is most important, and think "how do I want to live?"
ugh....soooo sad.

I know you don't think that you did much to ease her suffering, but I think that you're wrong. She wasn't alone, she was surrounded by love. I think that sometimes is the most important thing. When my mother's time was getting near, two of my aunts came to stay and along with myself and my two sisters, we made sure that she was never alone. At least one of us was with her around the clock. I told them I would do whatever they wanted me to do, but that I couldn't handle being there when she died. I just knew I didn't have it in me. It was the day after Christmas and my oldest son was with my fiance and his mother was in from Germany and they were all at my house. We were all at my sister's house where we had been for about a week. That morning we all went in and told her Happy Birthday - she had just turned 49 years old. I was in with her about dinnertime and just talking to her. I don't know if she could hear me, but I told her I loved her and wished her a happy birthday and told her that it was okay for her to go with God. That we were all going to be okay. At that very minute she took her last breath. There wasn't anything scary or gross. She just never took in another breath. I was alone with her and was holding her hand. I just sat there knowing she was gone. I didn't want to let go of her hand.

 

[IdahoMom]

I know you don't think that you did much to ease her suffering, but I think that you're wrong. She wasn't alone, she was surrounded by love. I think that sometimes is the most important thing. When my mother's time was getting near, two of my aunts came to stay and along with myself and my two sisters, we made sure that she was never alone. At least one of us was with her around the clock. I told them I would do whatever they wanted me to do, but that I couldn't handle being there when she died. I just knew I didn't have it in me. It was the day after Christmas and my oldest son was with my fiance and his mother was in from Germany and they were all at my house. We were all at my sister's house where we had been for about a week. That morning we all went in and told her Happy Birthday - she had just turned 49 years old. I was in with her about dinnertime and just talking to her. I don't know if she could hear me, but I told her I loved her and wished her a happy birthday and told her that it was okay for her to go with God. That we were all going to be okay. At that very minute she took her last breath. There wasn't anything scary or gross. She just never took in another breath. I was alone with her and was holding her hand. I just sat there knowing she was gone. I didn't want to let go of her hand.

Jeana-
If I was standing next to you right now, I would give you a big hug!! I am happy for you and your Mom that you were with her. That is a gift for both of you. I hear so often about people going once their loved ones say "We will be ok. It's ok to go". I think that is so very poignant.

extra (((hugs))) to you!

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Jeana-
If I was standing next to you right now, I would give you a big hug!! I am happy for you and your Mom that you were with her. That is a gift for both of you. I hear so often about people going once their loved ones say "We will be ok. It's ok to go". I think that is so very poignant.

extra (((hugs))) to you!

I'd hug you right back! :blowkiss: They say you don't really grow up until your parents die. In a way, I think that's got some truth to it, but I'd still like to be that kid I was the day before she died. The one thing I did discover is that I'm no longer afraid of dying.

 

[RubyJune]

The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation website says symptoms do not have to be present for a person to be carrying the bacteria and infect others. There was a case of a woman delivering a baby by ceaserean (Susan Dougherty) who was infected and died. Apparently there were a couple of others at the same time who contracted the infection and the hospital investigated. It was found that a healthcare worker who treated all of them had 2 children at home with strep throat and was a silent carrier. So who is at fault?

If there are no other cases on the floor it's quite possible a visitor could have come in contact with the bacteria and was a silent carrier.
You can find their website at www.nnff.org and read of other cases.

 

[IdahoMom]

I'd hug you right back! :blowkiss: They say you don't really grow up until your parents die. In a way, I think that's got some truth to it, but I'd still like to be that kid I was the day before she died. The one thing I did discover is that I'm no longer afraid of dying.

I've heard people that have lost their parents say they suddenly feel alone in the world.

Good for you about not being afraid of dying. I'm still scared! I especially don't want to go while my kids are still young.

Thanks for sharing, Jeana. More (((hugs))) to you! :blowkiss:

 

[angelmom]

The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation website says symptoms do not have to be present for a person to be carrying the bacteria and infect others. There was a case of a woman delivering a baby by ceaserean (Susan Dougherty) who was infected and died. Apparently there were a couple of others at the same time who contracted the infection and the hospital investigated. It was found that a healthcare worker who treated all of them had 2 children at home with strep throat and was a silent carrier. So who is at fault?

If there are no other cases on the floor it's quite possible a visitor could have come in contact with the bacteria and was a silent carrier.
You can find their website at www.nnff.org and read of other cases.

Perhaps no one is at fault. But I do think this woman has a right to know what happened and why. It is a critical part of her grieving process - and she is grieving for the loss of her life as she always dreamed - to learn what happened and accept it.

It has always ticked me off when people say, "They should be thankful to be alive." A person who has gone through something traumatic can be thankful and also grieving at the same time. When a dear friend of ours had an ectopic pregnancy and lost her fallopian tube, the doctor bristled at her tears and told her she was lucky to be alive and should be thankful. She was, but was also very distraught about the loss of her baby, angry that the doctors hadn't found the problem sooner, and devastated about the impact on her future fertility. The emotions are not mutually exclusive. And I think that's small potatoes compared to losing all of your limbs!!! The same goes for being in an accident or being seriously ill and being left disabled. Appreciation for life does not mean you shouldn't be allowed to process the feelings generated by the crisis.

I would think the hospital would have been bending over backward to console her and give her as much information as legally possible after such a nightmare. It reminds me of a study that came out several years ago about people who sue hospitals...many of them said they wouldn't have sued if they had been given an explaination and an apology, but got angry and consulted a lawyer when they were stonewalled.

 

[Paladin]

I probably would have rather died than not to be able to touch my child and hold them. I also wouldn't want to be a burden on anyone. It's a tough situation.

 

[luthersmama]

Perhaps no one is at fault. But I do think this woman has a right to know what happened and why. It is a critical part of her grieving process - and she is grieving for the loss of her life as she always dreamed - to learn what happened and accept it.

It has always ticked me off when people say, "They should be thankful to be alive." A person who has gone through something traumatic can be thankful and also grieving at the same time. When a dear friend of ours had an ectopic pregnancy and lost her fallopian tube, the doctor bristled at her tears and told her she was lucky to be alive and should be thankful. She was, but was also very distraught about the loss of her baby, angry that the doctors hadn't found the problem sooner, and devastated about the impact on her future fertility. The emotions are not mutually exclusive. And I think that's small potatoes compared to losing all of your limbs!!! The same goes for being in an accident or being seriously ill and being left disabled. Appreciation for life does not mean you shouldn't be allowed to process the feelings generated by the crisis.

I would think the hospital would have been bending over backward to console her and give her as much information as legally possible after such a nightmare. It reminds me of a study that came out several years ago about people who sue hospitals...many of them said they wouldn't have sued if they had been given an explaination and an apology, but got angry and consulted a lawyer when they were stonewalled.

We don't really know the hospital's side of the story. They can't discuss the case publically without violating her privacy.

I feel very sorry for her, but blasting her story to the media isn't helping anyone, unless the donations to her baby's trust fund have benefiitted from the publicity.

 

[chicoliving]

A Central Florida woman suing after she lost her arms and legs to flesh-eating bacteria that was contracted during childbirth may have won access to documents specific to her case that so far the hospital has been unwilling to give up, Local 6 News has learned.

Claudia Mejias, 23, originally went to Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital for the delivery of her son, Matthew.

After Mejias gave birth, doctors told her that she had contracted a flesh-eating bacteria -- with amputation her only option.

http://www.local6.com/news/13213531/detail.html

 

[southcitymom]

A Central Florida woman suing after she lost her arms and legs to flesh-eating bacteria that was contracted during childbirth may have won access to documents specific to her case that so far the hospital has been unwilling to give up, Local 6 News has learned.

Claudia Mejias, 23, originally went to Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital for the delivery of her son, Matthew.

After Mejias gave birth, doctors told her that she had contracted a flesh-eating bacteria -- with amputation her only option.

http://www.local6.com/news/13213531/detail.html

Thanks for posting this update, chicoliving! I truly hope this woman and her family can find the answers they are seeking.

 

[chicoliving]

~snip~

The horror that began then still unfolds for the disfigured mother, who has pleaded with hospital officials for two years to turn her medical records over — something a judge just ordered.

She and her lawyers believe she either got the infection — "group A strep" — at the hospital or its doctors and nurses failed to quickly and properly treat it. They are suing the hospital and its parent company, Orlando Regional Healthcare System, seeking unspecified damages.

"I just want the truth," Mejia said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,274116,00.html

 

[crypto6]

So this women should be happy that a hospital messed up with infection control or whatever, had to "chop off" her limbs to save her life because they made a mistake.

Please, the point is, that the infected patient should have been in strict isolation, knowing how "bad" this infection is should have taken any and all precautions to protect other patients.

Not cover up their mistakes(I am sure there is more then one), chop off someone's limbs, then ask that person to "thank" them because she did not die.

I don't see the logic, if the hospital messed up, had to rectify that mistake by choping off a person limbs, well the fault lies with the hospital, period.

Dead wrong, on all counts. We don't know the patient didn't have the strep when she came in the first hopital, caught it in the first hospital, in the ambulance, or caught it in the second. There's so little info here that we can't figure out where the infection started, much less the "fault" which lawyers love so much.

 

[T-Rex]

Disagree so, so, so strongly.
Had she had a home birth with a midwife, none of this would have ever happened, in my (educated) opinion.