Eddie Clinton's Leg To Walk On

On October 6, 2018, Eddie simply took two 10# bags of raw, whole shrimp that we got from a friend of a friend at the NC coast, and put them into smaller bags, and put them in the freezer. He ended up getting the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria into his blood stream and it began an attack we never imagined which will affect us for a long time. His heart, liver, and kidneys were affected, as were his legs and feet which had bulbous lesions on them, some bigger than eggs. He was on life support, with less than a 1% chance to live,  and in a coma, with more than 11 bags of medically needed "stuff" dripping into a port within a port in his neck. His chances?  "Slim to none," said his attending doctor in ICU.  Portable Dialysis was set up. After 3 days, the Health Department got a 282- page report on what was happening to him, as they began an investigation for the  Communicable Disease Center (CDC).      I can only imagine the medical bill! 

He was fighting for his life and he won, but not before  those little bacteria did a whole lot of damage.  His heart went from 40% function down to 25%.  The bacteria ate up his lower left leg and right foot to the point that they might have to be amputated.

As of today, 10/31/18, Eddie (and I) has been in the hospital 23 days with no end in sight. Yesterday he had surgery on his legs where the bacteria had eaten away. The surgery was to remove more dead skin and clean the area, and put artificial skin on until they could graft skin there. It was worse than they thought. The left leg will most likely be amputated. The right leg MIGHT be saved if he can tolerate a 4-8 hour surgery. Duke has agreed to take this on, but they do not have a bed available yet.  They continue to call and will contact UNC hospital as well.  Otherwise it too will be amputated. What a horrific journey so far! But he IS alive! It will be a long journey to recovery!