Recovering From Flesh Eating Disease - KKTV

A story you'll only see on 11 news...http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/3904076.html
A month ago, we first introduced you to Shayla Baier, a woman fighting for her life after being diagnosed with a rare flesh eating disease. When she was first diagnosed, doctors said she would probably not make it and told her family to pray for a miracle. Well, the family got their miracle. She is now home.
In July, Shayla was rushed to the Penrose Community Hospital in labor. A week after her son was born two months premature, Shayla discovered a red bump on her neck. Doctors just thought it was an infection and surgically inserted tubes to drain the wound. "The next day, it turned black. They took to Memorial Hospital with my dad and that’s the last thing I remember," Shayla told 11 News.
For the next month, Shayla remains in a medically induced coma, going through 4 more surgeries. Doctors were trying to remove the flesh-eating bacteria, also known as necrotizing fasciitis. It's rare, but the bacteria produce a toxin inside the body that eats away at your muscles and soft tissue. "They had to cut 1 ½ inches deep, cutting tendons and nerves and stuff. They tried not to get my face."
Now she can't lift her left arm. She recently had skin taken from her thighs and grafted it along her neck and chest. Shayla said there are several spots along her shoulder and neck that she can’t feel. It’s numb.
Shayla's been home for about a week now and she says she feels good for the most part. "All of this skin will fall off and look like this. It’ll start to turn normal in a year and doctors said you won't even be able to tell."
Shayla knows her neck can be shocking to some, but she's happy that she miraculously won a battle no one thought she would. "I just take it day by day."
Her son, Garrett, now six pounds, is finally coming home on Thursday. For more information about the flesh eating bacteria, return to the homepage and click on “As Seen On KKTV”. Also, if you would like to donate to Shayla’s medical bills, go to any Wells Fargo Bank. The account number is 3112243377.

September 13th, 2006 - Gazette

A brush with death - http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1321510&table=story_archive&sec=1#/
Shayla Baier is home recovering from a flesh-eating bacteria that nearly cost her her life. She must keep the wound exposed so it can heal. Skin grafts from her legs helped fill in the area where surgeries removed affected skin and tissue.
Woman credits prayer, support for overcoming flesh-eating infection
By CARY LEIDER VOGRIN THE GAZETTE
When Shayla Baier’s family looks at her, they don’t see a young woman with a massive wound on her chest and neck. They see a medical marvel — and much more. “It’s unbelievable. We got our miracle. Woo-hoo!” her father, Mike Baier, said Tuesday. More than a month after contracting a case of necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and sometimes deadly infection commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria,” his daughter is home. Shayla Baier, 21, didn’t know about her brush with death until she awoke in a Denver hospital in late August and was told surgeons in Colorado Springs and Denver repeatedly had to cut away dead flesh

in a battle against the bacteria. “It’s crazy to think about,” she said while resting Tuesday in a recliner in her Colorado Springs apartment. “I almost died. But it was the prayers and support that got me through. Can you put in there ‘thank you for all the prayers and love and support’?” “We really feel like it’s a miracle,” added her grandmother, Janet Baier of Kansas. “We have to remember to always thank God.” Shayla began experiencing symptoms of an infection July 24, when she noticed soreness and swelling in her neck. Redness followed, and then her skin turned black. Such infections occur when an invasive strain of group A streptococcus enters a cut or scrape. The bacteria quickly multiply and give off toxins that kill the tissue. The Centers for Disease Control estimates the mortality rate for necrotizing fasciitis at 20 to 30 percent, although other medical literature lists much higher death rates. Shayla had given birth to a boy June 22 at Penrose Community Hospital, and her father said it’s believed the infection started at an intravenous site on her neck. Surgeons at Memorial Hos- pital first removed dead tissue from her neck Aug. 2; she later was transferred to the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver. Shayla said she cried a lot after she awoke — not because of a large wound that stops at her jawline, but because she couldn’t be with her son, who she learned was still in the hospital after being born two months early. In fact, she didn’t cry when she saw her neck and chest. “She was kind of prepared because I explained it to her several times,” said her dad. “I thought it looked nasty,” Shayla said. “It looked like the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’ Everyone said, ‘Oh, it looks good.’ I thought it looked gross. I still think it looks gross, but I guess it’s doing good.” Her wound does not look as deep as it is. Surgeons packed it with a special dressing that serves as a framework on which new cells can attach, enabling the body to rebuild itself. Skin from Shayla’s thighs was grafted over the wound. Shayla wears only tube tops so the wound can heal more quickly. She also takes two pain medications and will undergo weeks of occupational and physical therapy. The lower left side of her face is numb, as is part of her arm because of nerve damage. Swallowing is harder than it used to be. Her legs are weak from weeks in bed, and even though son Garrett has been hospitalized directly across the street from her Academy Boulevard apartment, she has had to get rides to see him. Her doctor told her it might be a year before she’s completely healed and can return to her job as a cashier at Wal-Mart. Her paternal grandparents plan to stay with her until she and Garrett no longer need their help. Shayla received news Tuesday that her son can come home this week. “He’ll be on oxygen, but he’s all right,” she said. And after everything, she considers herself fortunate and believes she and her son are living miracles. “I just gotta remember everything happens for a reason and you may not know why it happened right now, but eventually it comes to you. God has a plan. One day I’ll figure out why,” she said. CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0236 or cary.vogrin@gazette.com COMMENT ON THIS STORY (4)

Amazing

Well so far Momma and baby are doing well at home. Granted they spend most of their time shuttling from one doctor to the next for each of them but hey at least they can do it together. Shayla has some up and down days. Her system is still weaker than most therefore, she has been getting sick often. Hopefully that too will pass soon. Garrett is eating like a little champ. I do believe the other day when we talked he was up to 3 oz and fussing for more. Keep up the good work little man!

The support from friends, family and even complete strangers have meant so much! Thank you! I spoke with Shayla the other day who said that as soon as she is able she would love to write a letter from herself for her blog. So let's send her some encouraging words to coast her along shall we?
~April

Homecomings.

Looks like Thursday evening (Sept. 14th) around 7:30p.m. Shayla gets to go pick little Garrett up from the Hospital and finally bring him home! She has had to learn how to put him in and take him out of his car seat with his oxygen aparatus. She has also been taught any CPR she might have to administer to him. This will be a joyous event and also a huge undertaking. Since Shayla still has a long way to go on her own before she is as healed as she can be, taking care of a little baby will definately be a challenge. Thank you for keeping her and Garrett in your prayers.
~April Fowler

New picture of Garrett

Update from Sister Brandy.

Shayla is doing well. She has gone to see Garrett several times. She was sick the first few days at home but is feeling much better. Garrett may get out of the hospital today (Sept. 11th) but he will still need oxygen. They are in the process of moving to the new apartment (2 bedroom). She has to see the doctor every Thursday for awhile (date is not set yet as to when that will stop) and every girls dream is coming true...a new wardrobe!!! I went crazy at Maurices and bought her 3 more shirts (they have to be tube tops) and a pair of white(YAY) pants and also a pair of kahki goucho pants from deb. Again, we would like to make mention of the wonderful support of Wal-Mart. Things are going really good.

Quick Update

I do apologize for my lack of an update on Shayla and Garrett. As of today Monday Sept. 4th (Labor Day) Shayla is suppose to leave the hospital and finally be reunited with her precious baby boy. Can you believe it??? See what all of your prayers and well wishes did for her? Thank you to all! Garrett still needs to stay in the hospital for a few more weeks however that will give Shayla more time to get around on her own. The skin grafting was a success yet extremely painful. There are a few spots that didn't take but for the most part everything is looking up!!! Hopefully within a year she will be mostly healed. Side Note: I will be out of town until Sept. 10th therefore, I will be unable to update or approve comments until I get back. I do apologize. When I am able to update I will include some cutiepie pictures of Garrett that I took yesterday (Sept. 3rd).
Take Care of one another, April Fowler