Mum has 19kg cut out stomach after flesh-eating bug infects c-section scar
Soon after Sarah Humphrey had given birth to her youngest daughter in February 2018, she noticed a horrific stench ‘like rotting meat’ coming out her c-section scar.
The mum was rushed to hospital with deadly necrotising fasciitis – a condition otherwise known as the ‘flesh-eating disease.’
Capable of killing within a few days if left untreated, necrotising fasciitis is a serious infection – which is caused when a vicious bacteria infects a wound.
Sarah was taken into surgery to remove the rot – but, in total, it took around 10 weeks for medics to get the infected flesh out of her body.
The single mum, who lives in east London, said: ‘When I woke up from the first operation there was a long tube coming out of my belly, sucking all the infected flesh into a machine.’
After several weeks in hospital – during which 19kg (3st) was cut from her stomach – Sarah returned home in the spring.
The ordeal was a lot for Sarah, who had also been diagnosed with symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) during pregnancy – resulting in doctors booking a c-section for 39 weeks.
She added: ‘I was scared, as I had never had an operation before. My previous pregnancies were normal, straightforward and easy.
‘Still, my daughter came out covered in blood and smiled.’
Following the c-section and the necrotising fasciitis diagnosis (plus recovery), the 41-year-old tried to return to normality over the summer months.
But in autumn, she was faced with another medical blow.
A painful hernia – which Sarah describes as being ‘the size of a child’s head’ – flared up.
The mum-of-six was then put on a waiting list for surgery, but Covid has since caused further delays – so she’s still waiting for the procedure.
In the meantime, Sarah has been using a mobility scooter to get around – but unfortunately this recently broke.
The mum is now looking to raise £550 to buy another one, while she waits for her hernia surgery.
She said: ‘My youngest daughter is starting nursery in two weeks and I don’t want to miss her first day.
‘All I want is some kind of normality.’
Sarah’s campaign can be found here.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Source: Read Full Article