‘Her whole life has changed’: Teenager loses 3 limbs after flu and strep complications
HOUSTON (KHOU) – What started as the flu has led to life-changing amputations for a teenage girl in Texas.
Kaydin Ruiz’s mother said her 13-year-old daughter was a shy girl who suddenly found herself fighting for her life in just a matter of weeks.
“Jan. 23, she started getting fever, chills and body aches,” her mother, Amanda Valdez, said.
The girl’s mother said it started as the flu, but by the end of January, her daughter’s symptoms were getting worse, so they went to the emergency room.
“Put her on oxygen … gave her fluids … monitored her,” her mother said. “And [they] debated sending us to San Antonio for higher care but ultimately sent us home to hydrate.”
However, once they got home, things took a turn.
“She went into respiratory distress, started turning blue. She had strep pneumonia and septic shock and multi-organ failure,” Valdez said.
Kaydin was ultimately taken to a hospital in San Antonio.
“Her heart was in distress, 20 percent working by then,” Valdez said.
Kaydin’s mother said at one point her daughter’s heart stopped.
“Devastating … never in a million years did I think the flu would lead to something like this,” her mother said.
Doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital said the flu can be dangerous on its own, but combined with infections like strep, it can quickly become severe.
“Influenza is a very dangerous virus. And some people react far more violently than others,” Dr. Howard Pryor said.
And that combination caused organ failure and dangerous blood clots in Kaydin’s limbs.
“Toxins released by the bacteria that activate inappropriate clotting in locations,” Pryor said.
Doctors said they had no choice but to amputate Kaydin’s legs and one arm.
“It’s devastating. Like how do you tell your kid that, for one, now she is covered in scars … her whole life has changed,” Valdez said.
Kaydin’s mother said she just wants to share her daughter’s story in hopes of helping others.
“When flu vaccines become available, that’s your best opportunity to protect your child from half of this problem,” Pryor said.
Kaydin’s family has started an online fundraiser to help cover her medical expenses.
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