After being bitten by many spiders on a recent fishing trip, a woman from Utah became infected with bacteria that eat flesh, and she is now in critical condition in the hospital.
Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou, a 59-year-old advocate for the Pacific Islander community who is well-known nationwide, recently went fishing in Mirror Lake, which is located about an hour and a half east of Salt Lake City. She fell unwell soon after she got back.
Her son, Adrian Swensen said, “When she woke up Sunday morning, she had a headache, a fever, and was in some pain, those symptoms progressed to the point that we decided she needed to see her doctor.”
After a negative COVID and flu test at the hospital, Feltch-Malohifo’ou was given two vaccinations, and some prescription medication, and was then discharged.
However, she got worse.
Doctors found 15 spider bites on Feltch- Malohifo’ou’s body when she visited the hospital a second time, at least seven of which were infected with a bacteria that eats flesh. Doctors now think she has necrotizing fasciitis, a disorder associated with the harm the bacteria caused.
“We thought we may lose her,” Adrian Swenson said, “It looks like if you’ve ever seen a shark bite, it looks like somebody just came and took a huge chunk out of her back.”
“The wound now is a foot long, eight inches wide and about seven inches deep,” said Swenson.
Necrotizing fasciitis, according to the CDC, happens when specific bacteria quickly degrade tissue. Necrotizing fasciitis can cause sepsis, shock, and organ failure if it is not promptly detected. When an illness has already spread too far, antibiotics may not be able to stop it, even though they are frequently given as soon as possible after a diagnosis has been made.
When antibiotics are no longer effective, the dead tissue must be surgically removed. In the instance of Feltch-Malohifo’ou, this is true. She has already had six operations, during which more than ten pounds of dead tissue had been removed. Additionally, based on the GoFundMe account set up to assist with covering her medical costs, she most likely has additional treatments in the near future.
“We are people of faith and are in constant prayer that she will be healed and in a timely manner.” Swensen added.
Watch it here: Youtube/Fox 13 News UTAH
Leave a Comment