Teen Shares Horrific Story After Contracting Flesh-Eating Bacteria on Canoe Trip
Water safety is something most people become more aware of during the summer months. The hottest season of the year means more people are headed to beaches, lakes and rivers.
We don life jackets and sign waivers for water fun. We scuba, fish, and paddle. We make ourselves aware of lifeguards and other swimmers.
But what we may not be aware of is how dangerous the water can be despite all the precautions we take.
For those with weaker immune systems and open wounds, time out on the water could be potentially hazardous.
This is exactly what happened to 16-year-old Kayley Coletta. When she and her boyfriend visited the Little Miami River in Ohio, Coletta had no idea she’d be in the hospital soon after.
Coletta has an autoimmune disease, which makes her even more susceptible to illness and bacteria.
Still, she didn’t think much about the sore on her leg before heading out for a day on the river. She covered it with a waterproof bandage and hopped in a canoe.
It took a few days for the Ohio teen to notice a drastic change — Coletta ended up with a headache, a fever, and a very swollen leg and foot.
“She took the bandage off, and when we saw what the sore looked like, it was black, almost gangrene,” Coletta’s mother, Kathy, explained.
Because of the infection, Coletta was admitted to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with what doctors call the “flesh-eating bacteria.”
“If the infection is serious, some people get very very sick,” Doctor Carl Fichtenbaum said. “They develop organ failure.”
Coletta and her mom are just thankful she survived. They were told if they had waited another day, Kayley would not have made it.
But 3 surgeries and 8 days in the hospital saved her life, and now the teen plans to be much more cautious when it comes to exposing an open wound to public water.
“Make sure that you’re cautious, and make sure you do your research and make sure you check yourself,” Coletta warned.
“She’s a very lucky girl,” her mom added. Hopefully Kayley’s experience will help others prevent something similar from happening to them.
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