KKTV Progress Story 8/21/06

Woman With Rare Flesh Eating Disease Shows Progress

Colorado Springs

Lauri Martin

In a story you’ll see only on KKTV 11 News…

We first told you about a Colorado Springs woman fighting a rare flesh eating disease 2 weeks ago. For the first time in a month, Shayla is starting to show signs of progress.

At the time, doctors said her chances of survival were slim and to pray for a miracle. But Monday night, after 5 surgeries total, and removing much of her chest and neck tissue, Shayla is doing somewhat better. Surgeons say she still has some of the bacteria in her system and another surgery is likely. But, they are hopeful that the first skin graft of many she will need could happen as soon as two weeks from now.

Below is the original story that aired on KKTV 11 News during the 10pm newscast on August 9, 2006. You can also find a blog from Shayla’s condition. Return to our homepage and click on "As Seen on KKTV".

A Colorado Springs woman is fighting for her life just three weeks after having a baby. 21 year old Shayla went into premature labor when she was rushed to Penrose Community Hospital. Doctors tried to stop early contractions, but Shayla’s baby boy decided it was time. Shayla’s dad, who we’ve kept anonymous, said, “It started with the IV or attempted with the IV and they poked her over 35 times.”

A week later, Shayla came down with the flesh-eating disease. No one knows for sure just how she got it, but Shayla's dad said doctors told him, it could have been from an open wound caused by repeated attempts to administer the IV.

In home video of Shayla at the hospital, she has a large, red bump on the left side of her neck. Doctors thought at first that it was just an infection. She went into surgery and tubes were inserted to drain the wound, but within days her condition worsens. Her entire neck began to swell and doctors realized she has the rare flesh-eating disease.
It's called necrotizing fasciitis, an infection caused by Group Strep A bacterium, which also causes common infections like Strep throat. But, in rare cases, when the bacteria infects an open wound on a person whose immune system is very weak, the bacteria produces a type of toxin inside the body. Dr. Sonja Anic with the El Paso County Health Department said, “It’s like something is eating away at your soft tissue, your fat, your muscles and your skin." The disease is so rare in fact, only 600 people in the U.S. have contracted the flesh eating disease in the past 6 years according to the Centers of Disease Control.

In spots, Shayla’s skin died and turned black. Her dad told 11 News, "The second surgery on Shayla, they removed the majority of her left side of her neck and the front side of her chest."
It’s been an emotional roller coaster for Shayla's family, who right now, are just making it day to day. “The doctors told me to pray. She's very sick and they're looking for a miracle."

Doctors say they don't know if Shayla is going to make it. Again, the flesh-eating disease is rare, but if you have a cut that gets red, if there's severe pain or swelling, and you get a fever, see a doctor.
Shayla's medical bills are through the roof. If you would like to donate, go to any Wells Fargo bank and the account is under "Care of Shayla."