Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Survivor's Story

Hospitalized from 02/22/2004 - 04/03/2004
Cost of treatment: Approximately $300,000
Surviving NF & keeping my arm: Priceless

I felt a slight pain in my arm late one evening, shrugged it off and went to bed. In the morning, I woke up in agony: extremely painful right arm and armpit, fever, physical exhaustion and other flu-like symptoms. I also had a huge "spiderbite" (which I now believe was an MRSA wound) near my tailbone and figured it was causing my fever. I finally became so uncomfortable that I was unable to sleep in my flat bed and asked my father if I could sleep in his room, where he had an adjustable bed. Three or four days passed, from the time I first woke up ill, until I finally sensed I was in dire straits and allowed my business partner to take me to a hospital. I think all that kept me alive was sheer willpower and a few cans of protein-rich dietary supplement I was able to consume.

Being broke and not having medical insurance at a time like this was not good! We first went to a hospital with a sign in their lobby that states that they have to treat you whether you can pay or not, and I wanted to go there because they are supposed to be one of the better hospitals in my area. All they did was give me a shot and a few IVs, took x-rays and fed me. When they realized how sick I really was, they decided to patient dump me to a county (teaching) facility. Basically, all they did was delay my getting proper treatment by an additional eight hours!