The family of a Texas teenager who had three of her limbs amputated after catching the flu have shared her story in the hopes of raising awareness of the potential dangers of the illness – which can be far more severe than people may think.
“[It’s] devastating. Never in a million years did I think the flu B would lead to something like this,” said Amanda Valdez, the mother of 13-year-old Kaydin Ruiz.
Kaydin first started showing flu-like symptoms in January, including fevers, a cough and fatigue, according to her family. Eventually she was taken to the emergency room but was sent home to rest and hydrate.
But her condition rapidly deteriorated. “She went into respiratory distress, started turning blue,” Valdez said, speaking to WTSP. “She had strep, pneumonia and septic shock and multi-organ failure.”
Kaydin was rushed via airlift to a hospital in San Antonio, where she was diagnosed with a severe strep infection as well as the flu. She was put on a ventilator but her heart stopped beating momentarily, her mother said.
“Influenza is a very dangerous virus — far more severe than many people realize,” Dr Howard Pryor, of Texas Children’s Hospital, where Kaydin is now being treated, told WTSP. “Strep is also a dangerous bacteria that requires close attention.”
Pryor added that toxins released by the bacteria can sometimes “activate clotting in different parts of the body,” which can lead to loss of limb function and organ failure.
Doctors ultimately made the decision to amputate both of Kaydin’s legs and one of her arms.
“It’s devastating. How do you tell your child that their whole world has changed?” Valdez said. “Now she’s covered in scars. Her whole life has changed.”
“Never in a million years did we expect this from the flu,” she said.
Valdez says she is sharing her daughter’s story to raise awareness of the severe risk of seemingly mild illnesses and the potentially devastating outcomes. Doctors say the best way to reduce risk of illness is vaccination.
“We wouldn’t want parents to miss the opportunity,” Pryor said. “When flu vaccines are available, that’s the best way to protect your child from part of this risk.”
A GoFundMe page set up to help Kaydin’s family with medical costs has raised almost $25,000.
“Our gorgeous baby girl is a fighter and she is doing better every day. Words cannot describe the feelings my family is feeling but we are strong and so is Kaydin,” the page’s description reads. “Kaydin is such a loving, kind, strong, beautiful sweet girl. She’s a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, and a friend to many.”
According to the page Kaydin loves anime, plays the French horn and her favorite food is ramen.
