How a woman’s mild neck strain turned out to be a flesh-eating bacterial infection that spread to her spine and left her paralyzed
- Cleaner sensed a suspected neck strain
- She rested but lost the movement of her limbs
- Left paralyzed after emergency surgery
A woman has been paralyzed after what she thought was a simple neck injury turned out to be a flesh-eating bacteria that nearly killed her.
Karen Stevens, a 54-year-old resident of Western Australia, developed neck pain four weeks ago and attributed it to a muscle strain from her cleaning job.
The New Zealander, who has lived in Australia for eight years, was told by doctors to rest but was rushed to hospital on July 28 after losing all feeling and movement in her arms and legs.
Rushed tests and MRI scans showed that Ms. Stevens was suffering from a staph infection that had damaged the nerves, tissue and bones around her spine.
After emergency double laminectomy surgery to remove bone and drain abscesses that were compressing her spinal cord, Ms. Stevens appeared stable.
Karen Stevens, 54 from WA, developed neck pain four weeks ago and attributed it to a muscle strain from her cleaning job.
Three days later, however, Mrs. Stevens was having trouble breathing.
Another MRI showed that the infection had entered her spinal canal and traveled further up the spine, damaging the crucial C2-C7 vertebrae.
Doctors told Mrs. Stevens and her family that another surgery was needed to “flush” the spine and drain the abscesses, but she was only 10 percent alive.
Daughter-in-law Miro said the family was given a “bleak prognosis” about the surgery’s chances of success.
“But the strong, determined lady we know survived the surgery and, after four days on a ventilator, was transferred to a tracheotomy for a week and then without assisted breathing.” Miro wrote on one GoFundMe page.
“A huge achievement after the doctors advised they weren’t sure she would ever be able to breathe again without help.”
Miro said her mother-in-law “has the biggest heart and would do anything for anyone.”
Ms Stevens has been paralyzed by a staph infection around her spine that threatened to end her life
Now that Ms. Stevens is not covered by Medicare, the fundraising page is intended to help cover some of her costs and by Sunday evening she had already surpassed her goal of raising $10,000 with a $13,000 pledge.
“All money will go towards her recovery while she is in Australia and the cost of getting her back to New Zealand when she is medically stable to travel. She will then continue her rehabilitation at Burwood Spine Unit in Christchurch, New Zealand,” the fundraiser read.
In an update posted Wednesday. Miro writes that after twelve days in the neuro ward, Ms. Stevens would be transferred to the rehabilitation ward.
“It’s been hard on Mema’s mental state; While she has remained mostly positive, there have been some incredibly bad days when she became aware of her situation,” said Miro.
‘She has had small periods of physical therapy on the ward; she finds this very tiring, but also feels invigorated afterwards.’
A small sign of progress is that Ms. Stevens has been able to sit in a chair for an hour with support for her back and neck.
“We know the big strides and progress start when she’s in the spine; she knows it’s going to be a tough road, but she’s willing to give it her all,” said Miro.
Staphylococci, or staph for short, bacteria are normally found on the skin and/or in the nasal passages, but find their way into the body through wounds or injuries, leading to infection.
In the most serious cases, staph infections can cause sepsis or death.