Lindsey Hubley, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, appears with her first child, Myles, and her fiancee Mike Sampson after giving birth on March 2. Days later, she had all four limbs removed because of flesh-eating disease. Photo courtesy of
A Canadian woman was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease four days after her son was born in March and now she is a quadruple amputee.
Last week, the woman and her fiance filed a negligence lawsuit in Nova ScotiaSupreme Court against the hospital where she gave birth, IWK Health Center, and five doctors.
"What Lindsey and her family have gone through over these past seven months is incomprehensible," said Raymond Wagner, Q.C., counsel for Lindsey Hubley. "She is truly a survivor, and remarkably has maintained a positive and determined attitude along her long road to recovery, all while juggling the struggles, and joys, of a newborn."
Hubley is now infection-free but needs more surgeries, including a kidney transplant.
Hubley, 33, gave birth to her first child, Myles, on March 2. She and her fiance, Mike Sampson, 34, brought their child home two days later.
Early the next day, Hubley began feeling a "sharp, distinct, abdominal pain." At 9 a.m., the couple and their newborn returned to IWK Health Center where doctors said she was suffering from constipation. The family went back home.
After the pain increased the next day, Hubley was rushed in an ambulance to Queen Elizabeth II Emergency. She was suffering from secondary septic shock and her organs were failing.
Hubley was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and placed in a medical coma. Her arms and legs were amputated, and doctors performed a total hysterectomy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition occurs rarely when bacteria enters the body through an open wound.
Hubley is still primarily confined to a hospital bed seven months later.
"In addition to the surgeries and life-altering changes Lindsey has had to go through, no mother should have to miss out on the first months of her son's life," Sampson said. "We're grateful she's recovering, but it's a long road ahead."
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