news
The parents of a 14-year-old boy had to make the heartbreaking decision to have all of their son’s limbs amputated after his normal flu-like symptoms suddenly turned deadly.
Matias Uribe, of Tennessee, has been hospitalized at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt for more than two months since he was rushed to the hospital on June 30th in a near-death condition.
He was diagnosed with pneumonia and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and went into cardiac arrest. WSMV reported.
Matthias was put on ECMO. [extracorporeal membrane oxygenation] The machine pumped blood throughout his body for two weeks, giving his heart and lungs a rest. The boy’s father said this saved his life, but doctors had to remove the limb because there wasn’t enough blood flowing to it.
His hands were removed from the wrists and his legs from below the knees.
Mattias’ family hopes their son, who ran cross country, played soccer and played the piano, will soon be able to leave the hospital with a new prosthetic leg.
“We told him we will be your arms and legs until we figure everything out,” his father, Edgar Uribe, told the magazine.
Dr. Katie Boyle, an ICU pediatrician and head of Matthias’s care team, said there was nothing Matthias’ parents could have done to save their son’s limb from amputation.
“This is very unusual,” she said of Mathias’ rapidly deteriorating condition. She said: “Flu can cause a bacterial infection, but even so, most children don’t get as sick as Matthias.”
Parents should get their children vaccinated against the flu and check them frequently while they are sick for symptoms such as high fever, difficulty swallowing fluids, or difficulty waking up from a deep sleep. Boyle said it should be a reason to go to the hospital.
Matthias has undergone more than a dozen surgeries. His parents say he is expected to remain in the hospital for another month.
They said they are currently looking for a place in Atlanta to fit a prosthetic leg and begin rehabilitation.
“You’re going to have a great life,” Catalina Uribe reportedly told her son. “You’re going to MIGT. You’re going to do whatever you want to do. Matthias, you’re here, so there are no limits.”
Uribes started a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $235,000 to cover the teen’s medical expenses.
Load more…
{{#isDisplay}}
{{/isDisplay}}{{#isAniviewVideo}}
{{/isAniviewVideo}}{{#isSRVideo}}
{{/isSR video}}