Shelley's battle against Necrotizing Fasciitis

The Story

On November 18, 2013 Shelley took a fall off a 6 foot ladder and developed a laceration to the back of her head. She went to the ER and CT showed no internal injuries and her laceration was cleaned and sutured. Over the next 2 days she developed significant swelling and pain to her neck. She was seen in the ER again and blood work and CT scan showed no infection and only soft tissue injury to her neck. She was treated with fluids, steroids, and pain meds. That evening she developed respiratory distress and was transferred by ambulance to the ER and was placed on life support and vasopressors to maintain her blood pressure. She was in septic shock and multi-organ system failure. A diagnosis was made of Necrotizing Fasciitis(Flesh Eating Bacteria)and she was transferred to a level 1 trauma center in Houston, Tx.(Memorial Hermann TMC) Over a month's period she received numerous full-thickness skin debridements to the entire back of her head/scalp and upper back along with painful dressing changes. After it was determined that there was no more necrotic tissue, the reconstructive surgeries could begin. The plastic surgeon was doubtful that the muscle flap would even work for her situation. He said that out of about 8000 surgeries that he has performed, Shelley's surgery would be in the top 15 as far as difficulty. She had a condition that was not conducive to life, with 2/3 of her scalp being gone. The surgery was performed and involved muscle flaps and skin grafts to an extensive area. After a few weeks, it was determined that the flaps had great circulation and were a success! Prayers answered!
Now looking past all the reconstructive surgeries, Shelley is faced with several other surgeries. The next being bilateral below the knee amputations. After being in septic shock and receiving high doses of vasopressors, the circulation in her extremities were compromised and she developed gangrenous feet and fingers.
The effects of one little fall were catastrophic to Shelley's life. Some of the items that she will need are prosthetic legs, fingers, wig, wheelchair, home remodeling for wheelchair accessibility, vehicle accommodations for amputees and no doubt countless other things.
Shelley is a single mom and has 3 children. Ryan, Courtney and Brianna. She has 2 sisters Kim(me) and Nancy.
For now we will take one day at a time and look to the future with hope for a fulfilling life for Shelley. She's a fighter and it is plainly obvious that God has plans for her and maybe one day she can be of great support for others fighting the same battle.
More updates can be found at her CaringBridge site.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/shelleymarshall2

Fundraiser Updates

Posted on February 18, 2014

Sorry for not updating sooner, but we've all been very busy since Shelley was released to go home on Friday, Valentines Day. Two days before she was released, Shelley had to have some more plastic surgery. It was only some minor skin grafting to her scalp, but they had to take more skin from her thigh and that has created more pain.

Shes moving around a lot better and using her sliding board more efficiently from wheel chair to bedside commode to the bed. We are having to do a little 'tough love' and encourage her to do more for herself. It makes it difficult with the necrotic tissue on the tips of her left hand, but she's doing better. She still has 4 dressings that need to be changed once a day, that Courtney, Casey and I will be changing. And for PT we are having her do her resistance bands for strengthening.

She sees her primary doctor today and then next week, she will have follow ups with her general surgeon, plastic surgeon and hand surgeon. We will also be seeing a wonderful pain doctor, Dr Hede, that I work with, next week for better pain control.

Her health insurance, purchased through the ACA will kick in on March 1. I'm hoping we can get her in a skilled nursing facility or rehab at that point.

We are also having problems with the plumbing in her house. So if anyone knows of a good, reasonably priced plumber, please let me know.

Thank you you for all the acts of kindness...we have received yummy meals from Dana and Cheri. And McKenzie made several frozen meals. Amy and Katy's grandparents had Shelley's house cleaned and a ramp built. Shelley's boyfriend, Jason, cleaned her carpets. When I went to pick up her tub transfer bench at Medical Tectrronics in Houston, the owner Rick, tore up the invoice. By the way, if you are in need of great discounted medical equipment, you must see him first. http://www.medicaltectronics.net.
My friends Yvonne and Greg Johnson donated 2 weeks worth of dressing supplies, just in time because we used our last gauze roll yesterday. My wonderful neighbors, affectionately called the Creek Girls, have done so many things, that I'm sure I can't even list here. Michelle Jeffers is helping to organize meals for next week and has traveled with me to see Shelley, listened to me for hours on end and offered many a shoulder to cry on. Melissa Cameron has traveled with me to Shelley's, to assess her home for wheel chair readiness and has offered free physical therapy! Jennifer Fulton, called around and got a very sturdy drop arm commode for us, from her church. She also called Gayla Wigs and they are going to donate a wig for Shelley once her head wound heals.The emotional support the Creek Girls have given to me has been more appreciated than I can even begin to put in to words. We are having a Premiere Jewelry party fundraiser this Friday, with a wonderful host Deborah Raley who has volunteered to give the proceeds to Shelley. Her website is www.jewelrydeb.com. Jennifer Hoiden(Another Creek Girl) has donated several Premiere pieces to be sold on Friday at a discounted price, with all proceeds to be given to Shelley. She has also presented Shelley's cause to her networking group and has given me several names to potentially help with different needs of Shelley's as they arise. Our cousin Robert and Julie Marshall have donated a wheel chair for her to use and offered financial and emotional support. Other cousins Tom and Kay Marshall, Janet, Alice, Chad, Charles, Carolyn, Gordon and Kathy(if I have forgotten someone, please forgive me)have given to Shelley's cause, Along with numerous friends, friends of friends, neighbors, and complete strangers.

I'm sure that I have forgotten someone, so please forgive me. Shelley and her family appreciate all that has been done!

Here is the invite to her fundraiser Premiere Jewelry Show...

https://attachment.fbsbx.com/messaging_attachment.php?mid=mid.1392255718019%3A733c7571a2bba6b882&midroot&aid=062032f4f66fee869fe6daae8a6ee7bc&tid&uid=1064802886&accid=1064802886&ext=1392767196&hash=AQBoRRaLQxy56-X7NwPQ1tS0NTwG0IuTQpSV0Wzg-c-6Wg

Love and much thanks to you all,
Kim, Shelley and family

Posted on February 5, 2014

First off, we want to say that we are overwhelmed with gratitude to the generosity of friends, family and total strangers. Since the airing of Shelley's story on KHOU, we have been contacted by many caring people with well wishes, prayers and offers of support in many ways. We are overwhelmed and in awe of so many acts of kindness. Shelley and her whole family thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Shelley has now been accepted to the rehab floor for a limited time...a total of 14 days. Her goals are to be able to move herself from wheelchair to bed to bedside commode with minimal help. She will be discharged home whether she meets these goals or not. We are told that she will need to go home and heal before she can attend a full rehab facility...that can take up to a year. So we are now faced with taking Shelley to her home and providing care for her 24 hours a day. We are not sure of the details, but we are trying desperately to get a plan in place. Another detail we have to attend to, is getting her home wheel chair ready.

I will be seeing her tomorrow and will get a better idea on her progress.

Again, thank you all and God Bless!

Kim

Posted on February 4, 2014

Interview with KHOU

http://www.khou.com/news/local/New-Caney-woman-still-battling-effects-of-flesh-eating-bacteria-243407771.html

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Shelley's battle against Necrotizing Fasciitis

The Story

Fundraiser Updates

Posted on February 18, 2014

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