A Texas woman had to have her hands and feet amputated after developing a life-threatening bacterial infection just days after giving birth via C-section.
Krystina Pacheco and her husband Jacob welcomed a baby girl on Oct. 24. But just one day after being released from the hospital, Krystina was airlifted back after feeling very ill. “They ended up air flighting us back to San Antonio,” Jacob told KSAT news. “She was on life support and going through organ failure.”
It turned out Pacheco had developed toxic shock syndrome — a rare, life-threatening complication caused by Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria or strep A bacteria, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Reality TV Star From ‘Love Island UK Says She Fell Seriously Ill After Forgetting About Tampon For Three Months)
Jacob told KSAT that Krystina ended up getting both hands amputated an inch above the wrist and both legs amputated 3-4 inches below the knee on the Monday before Thanksgiving. He also said his wife has had multiple skin grafts. https://t.co/SjjMmhgvfu
— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) December 17, 2022
Because blood flow to her arms and legs was so poor, doctors had to amputate Pacheco’s hands one inch above her wrist and both legs 3-4 inches below the knee just before Thanksgiving, KSAT reported. Pacheco is reportedly free from infection but still faces multiple procedures in hospital — including more skin grafts — before she recovers, her husband told the outlet.
“She’s currently in the ICU and is expected to be in the hospital another 3-4 weeks, followed by inpatient rehab for 3-4 weeks. Then she’ll have outpatient rehab,” her husband added.
Despite her ordeal, Pacheco has tried to remain optimistic. “Her birthday is actually tomorrow and she’s just trying to stay positive because she wants to come home to our two kids. She really is doing well and getting better and doctors are blown away by her positive attitude,” her husband told KSAT news.
Hospital officials are still investigating the source of the infection.“It could have come from a number of places so we’re still trying to figure out how it happened,” her husband stated. “Her IV port got infected in her arm. It could have come from the C-section. We just don’t know.”