Woman has arms and legs amputated after routine checkup goes horrifically wrong
A mum from San Diego has lost her arms and legs following complications from emergency surgery.
After going for a routine heart check up in May, 41-year-old Leslie Caoili was told that she was suffering from a life-threatening Type A aortic dissection, a tear in the main artery coming from her heart.
“Most people who suffer an aortic dissection usually happens pretty quickly, and they don't survive. So the surgery was necessary in order to save her life. She probably had maybe hours left to live, and we wouldn't even, we didn't even know it,” her husband, Lee Caoili told ABC.
The mother-of-two-daughters needed to have immediate surgery for cardiopulmonary bypass and extensive reconstruction of her aorta.
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Lee hoped that the procedure would mark the end of Leslie’s health issues, but just weeks post surgery, she lost blood flow to her hands and feet.
“We didn’t really know how her body was gonna respond to the initial surgery, but she ended up losing blood flow to her hands and her feet, and by the end of the first month there, her hands and her feet were blackened and shriveled,” Caoili explained.
Doctors were forced to amputate her hands at the mid-forearm, as well as both legs.
"Every day has been a battle for her. Every day has been a fight," he said as Leslie will soon be discharged from hospital.
The couple were in the process of doing up their home and Lee wants it to be as ready as possible before she comes back.
“She just wants to come home to her family and her kids and her dog and me and wants to get back to living life as normal as we can make it for her,” he added.
The family’s GoFundMe, which will go towards medical expenses, travel and lodging during her ICU stay, household expenses and long-term rehabilitation, has so far raised $93,980 raised of $140,000.
“Leslie is more than a patient in a hospital bed. She is a loving wife, devoted mother, daughter, sister, and friend who has touched so many people with her kindness, strength, and love,” reads the fundraiser set up by Lee.
“She has always been the person others could depend on, and now we are asking for help on her behalf during the most difficult time our family has ever faced.
“As we remain by her side every day, the financial burden continues to grow rapidly. Between missed work, travel expenses, hospital-related costs, meals, parking, childcare, and the uncertainty of a long recovery ahead, we are struggling to keep up while focusing on what matters most — being there for her.
“We know times are hard for many people, and we never imagined needing to ask for this kind of support. But today, we are humbly asking for help for our family and for Leslie as she continues this fight.”
It adds: “If you are unable to donate, we completely understand. Please consider sharing this fundraiser and keeping Leslie in your prayers and thoughts. Every share, message, and prayer means more to us than words can express.”
Anish Vij