Woman has legs and hand amputated after 'flesh-eating' bacteria entered bloodstream

A woman had to have her legs and left hand amputated after ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria entered her bloodstream.

Just before Thanksgiving 2024, Brittany experienced ‘severe abdominal pain’ and was rushed to hospital. It was found that the mum from the US had gone into septic shock.

This had been brought on by Group A Streptococcus (GAS). The same bacteria that cause strep throat, in Brittany’s case it had entered her blood and led to toxic shock sepsis.

This ‘flesh-eating bacteria’ was able to spread rapidly through the woman’s body and attacked her limbs.

While she was unconscious and unaware of what was taking place, doctors performed ‘life-altering procedures’. Brittany then woke up a week later to discover she was an amputee as numerous surgeries ‘took more and more from her limbs’.

Brittany went into septic shock, which resulted in her having both of her legs and left hand amputated (GoFundMe)

Her brother, Chris, and best friend, Mel, wrote on GoFundMe: “It was heartbreaking when she was finally conscious enough to be aware of her body and discovered the devastating reality that both of her legs, left hand, and half of her left forearm, had all been removed.”

Although Brittany was able to keep her right hand, her family explain that the ‘damage and loss of sensation’ in most of her fingers mean even the simplest of tasks are a struggle.

As they try to raise money to help with medical costs, home modifications and a handicapped accessible van they say ‘high-quality prosthetics’ are the woman’s ‘greatest wish’.

They describe the mum as a ‘fighter and a warrior’ and an ‘artist, photographer, pianist and gardener’.

Brittany has been described as a ‘fighter and a warrior’ during the traumatic time (GoFundMe)

Referring to Brittany’s fiancé and 12-year-old son, they added: “Adrean has been her rock; tirelessly splitting time between the hospital, caring for Rowan, and navigating the healthcare system, all while continuing to manage their home and daily responsibilities. Every aspect of their lives has been so profoundly affected by this tragedy.”

Earlier this month, they updated the page to say the woman had been discharged from the ‘step down unit’ and has been transferred to the in-patient rehab ‘that will be her final step before going home’.

“She deals with phantom limb pain and severe loss of sensation in her hand, except for pain. But she is working through it and trying her best to overcome all of these challenges with every passing day,” they added.

Brittany is set to remain in hospital while she relearns to live as independently as possible.