[ad_1]
A Wisconsin man who lost his nose, his hands and part of his legs after contracting a rare blood infection due to a dog's saliva made a vow to walk again.
Greg Manteufel, 48, of West Bend, was rushed to hospital in June after having flu-like symptoms and bruises on his arms and legs.
The doctors told him that an infection had spread to all four limbs and that because of significant damage to the tissues and muscles, they would have been forced to amputate all the limbs .
Manteufel was discharged from the Milwaukee area hospital two weeks ago, after spending three months in the intensive care unit and at least ten surgeries. But this experience has not changed what he feels for dogs.
Now, he is determined to be equipped with prostheses to be able to recover some of the mobility he has lost.
Greg Manteufel, 48 (Tuesday), of West Bend, Wisconsin, who lost his nose, hands and part of his legs after contracting a rare blood infection due to a dog's saliva, promises to walk again
Manteufel was rushed to hospital in June after having flu-like symptoms and bruises to the arms and legs. On the photo: Manteufel meeting with his dog, Ellie
The doctors told him that an infection had spread to all four limbs and that because of significant damage to the tissues and muscles, they would have been forced to amputate all the limbs . In the photo: Manteufel, right, in his wheelchair with his wife Dawn
Greg's blood infection was caused by capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacteria found in the mouths of dogs and cats, according to the CDC.
A Japanese study conducted in 2014 found that the bacteria was present in 69% of dogs and 54% of cats.
The bacteria can be transmitted to humans by biting, licking or even near the animal – infiltrating into the skin even without cuts or scrapes.
Although most people have no symptoms if they are infected, it has been shown to cause serious illness in those with compromised immune systems, according to a 2003 study in France.
Dr. Silvia Munoz-Price, an infectious disease specialist at Froedtert and the Wisconsin School of Medicine, told WITI that Manteufel's immune system response to the infection had resulted in a drop in her blood pressure and an increase in her blood pressure. blood circulation in the limbs.
"More than 99% of people who have dogs will never have this problem. It's just [a fluke]said Dr. Munoz-Price.
Greg learned that the infection was probably transmitted by a lick of his dog. Pictured: Greg at the hospital
He has had leg amputation to his knees (left), arms in the middle of his forearms, and major plastic surgery on his nose (right). After more than 10 surgeries, he left the hospital two weeks ago.
It is unclear whether Manteufel was suffering from pre-existing conditions, but he developed sepsis or blood poisoning and his nose, both hands and legs under his knees became black.
A week after arriving at the hospital, the doctors first amputated Manteufel's feet, then his legs up to his kneecaps.
Three weeks after his admission, Manteufel was amputated with both hands to the palm of his hand.
According to a GoFundMe page, the doctors hoped to save the rest of his arms but, due to significant damage to the tissues and muscles, he had to amputate both arms up to the forearm.
The doctors also told Dawn that Manteufel would need intensive plastic surgery to rebuild his nose.
After discovering that the Manteufels had a dog, the medical staff told Dawn that her husband was probably infected after being licked.
A family friend has created a GoFundMe page to raise funds to cover his mountain medical bills. So far, over $ 135,000 has been raised towards a goal of $ 250,000.
According to the page, Manteufel will be equipped for prosthetic limbs so that it can function independently.
According to a GoFundMe page created by a family friend, Manteufel (pictured left, with the family) will be equipped for prosthetic limbs so that it can function autonomously.
Last week, Manteufel found in tears his dog Ellie and told him that he did not want people to be afraid of dogs just because of what had happened to him. Pictured: Greg with Ellie
Last week, Manteufel found his dog Ellie in tears.
"I'm looking forward to seeing her when I get out of the hospital," he told WITI as he sat next to his wife in his new electronic wheelchair.
"We do not want people to be afraid of their dogs because of what has happened.
"I will always love dogs. It's a sad situation but it was not the dog's fault.
Such closeness to death has also brought Manteufel and Dawn closer after years of marriage.
"When we leave each other now, we make sure to say," I love you, "says Dawn.
Source link
