New Mexico girl, 4, paralyzed after contracting COVID-19 and developing rare neurological disorder



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Fox nashville Stella Martin

A 4-year-old girl is paralyzed after being diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disorder that affects the spine, following the contraction of the new coronavirus.

Stella Martin was rushed to the San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, New Mexico, in April 2020 after complaining to her mother of back pain, according to KOAT.

Her mother, Cassandra Yazzie, told the news channel that Stella quickly became limp in her arms and had to be airlifted to UNM Hospital in Albuquerque.

There, Stella was diagnosed with the new coronavirus and acute transverse myelitis, Yazzie said.

Doctors believe Stella’s antibodies have started attacking her spinal cord, causing inflammation, KOAT reported.

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According to the Mayo Clinic, transverse myelitis is an inflammation of the spinal cord that often damages the insulating material lining the fibers of nerve cells.

The disorder interrupts the messages that nerves in the spinal cord send throughout the body, causing pain, muscle weakness, sensory problems, bladder and bowel dysfunction, or paralysis.

Stella, whose father died of complications from COVID-19 after being admitted to hospital, spent eight months at UNM before leaving Monday.

In a video shared by UNM Health Sciences on Facebook this week, Stella was taken out of the hospital to applause from medical staff.

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“After a severe episode with COVID-19, Stella Martin, 4, leaves the UNM hospital. Stella arrived at the hospital in April after contracting COVID-19. She spent more than 5 months in the pediatric ICU and arrived at the HTC. Service in October where she would celebrate her fourth birthday, ”UNM Health Sciences said in the post.

“We celebrate her recovery and the hard work and dedication of our healthcare team who work tirelessly to help patients like her.”

Yazzie told KOAT that Stella is building up strength in her arms and legs, though medics have said she is unlikely to make a full recovery.

“I just want everyone to stay safe, don’t take COVID lightly,” she said, “because it affects my daughter in a big way.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Stella. On Friday, he raised over $ 5,000 of his goal of $ 50,000.

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