Monica Jorge's life in August 2007 could not have been better. She was engaged to a wonderful man, Tony, and they were about to celebrate the arrival of a new daughter. On their way to the hospital neither could have imagined how much their lives were about to change.
The birth of her second child via C-section was relatively smooth, yet she began noticing a low grade fever a few hours later. Then she had a persistent sharp abdomen pain began. At first she thought it must be related to the C-section. Quickly it became apparent that this was much more. Soon she was in critical condition. Monica was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Doctors diagnosed Monica and the news was grim. She had contracted necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known to as "flesh-eating bacteria". Suddenly drastic action had to be taken to save Monica. Clinging to life, the new mother slipped into septic shock and time was short. Surgeons acted quickly to stabilize her and isolate the infection. Her uterus, ovaries, her gall bladder, and most of her colon were removed in those first few hours. Once stabilized, physicians realized the infection had also take another toll, all four of her limbs would have to be amputated. Monica would endure almost 35 separate surgeries.