Ark. Girl Fighting Rare Brain Infection Can Speak

[AmyStrange]

Source: ABC News

A 12-year-old Arkansas girl who has been battling a rare and often-fatal infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba is now able to say a few words.

Kali Hardig was diagnosed last month with an infection caused by an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri.

There were 128 such infections reported in the United States between 1962 and 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before Kali, doctors could only point to one known survivor in the U.S. and another in Mexico.

So it's remarkable that Kali is alive, let alone able to say anything.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ark-girl-fighting-rare-brain-infection-speak-20025306

[Marrah_G]

1. Brain eating amoebas?

O.M.G.

That is the stuff of nightmares.

I hope the poor child recovers. I can't imagine the hell her parents are going through.

[AmyStrange]

4. It IS scary shi...

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...t there's a boy in Florida going through the same thing:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/21/florida-boy-arkansas-girl-brain-eating-amoeba/2681417/

[AmyStrange]

2. Girl's survival of rare disease gives Fla. family hope

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/21/florida-boy-arkansas-girl-brain-eating-amoeba/2681417/

"LaBELLE, Fla. -- Doctors treating a Florida boy who has a rare form of meningitis have been told about an experimental breast cancer drug and the dramatic drop in body temperature that helped make an Arkansas girl only the third survivor of this affliction.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta confirmed Tuesday that there has been communication between the doctors treating the two youths.

[..]

"Zachary Reyna, 12, was knee boarding in a water-filled ditch near his family's LaBelle, Fla., home Aug. 3 when he contracted the same infection. He is in the intensive care unit at Miami Children's Hospital, where his family is keeping vigil at his bedside and hoping he becomes the fourth survivor.

"The infection destroys brain tissue and is almost always lethal - the fatality rate is more than 99 percent. The CDC said one of 128 individuals with the infection in the U.S. in the past 50 years has survived; and one in Mexico survived... "

[William769]

3. There is a case right here close to where I live.

The community has pitched in to help the family. It's been tough on them.


LABELLE, FL -
Zachary Reyna's dad says the deadly amoeba that is attacking the 12-year-old's brain is gone and brain swelling is down.

He says antibiotics killed the amoeba and Zachary no longer has the infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis—or PAM.

If he survives, he'll become only the fourth person to ever overcome the brain-eating amoeba he contracted while knee boarding with friends outside his LaBelle home.

Soon after the family was informed of the news, Zachary's brother Brandon Villarreal shared a post with Facebook friends:


"Got some good news, the antibiotics killed away the amoeba infection! Just another battle won for us but we are still fighting the war...keep praying and praying! The time is coming, I feel it!!"

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/23218095/family-member-of-zachary-reyna-says-deadly-amoeba-gone

[AmyStrange]

5. Looks like they may have found a possible cure...

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I posted the same story (diff source) that you did above.

Thank you for sharing Will,

d

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added "that" before "you did above" in the first sentence

[William769]

6. No problem.

Stories like this are always bad but when they involve children (especially in your own community) it weighs heavily on the heart.

[AmyStrange]

8. Absolutely...

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but at least these two stories may have a happy ending,

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[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. Yikes. One infection from a water park and one from a water filled ditch.

I understand the ditch but WTF is the deal with water parks?

My customer just got over a very bad ear infection he got from a water park.

He initially was treated with a standard antibiotic by the Nurse Practitioner in the local pharmacy. After the pain spread to his neck and shoulder, he rushed to his own Doc. The Doc was pissed that the NP didn't recognize the very obvious "water park ear", as he called it, and prescribed very strong antibiotic and steroid.

[AmyStrange]

9. What's Up With Water Parks?

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there is definitely something weird going on here. Thank you for sharing Bin Sober (hehehe, I like that name),

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[Marrah_G]

10. Water parks, I think, are sort of like cruise ships

Petri dishes for bacteria and viruses.

[Mz Pip]

11. Incredible diagnosis

It's pretty amazing that they were able to get an accurate diagnose. 128 cases in 50 years is about as obscure of a disease as they come.

Yay to the doctors who got it right and got her treatment.

[AmyStrange]

12. I didn't even think of that...

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...but you're right. It IS an incredible diagnosis. Thanx for sharing Mz Pip,

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edited "and" to "an" in first sentence

[dipsydoodle]

14. ditto

I wonder if one of the doctors was familiar with a similar case.

[AmyStrange]

13. Florida Boy Amoeba-Free, but Suffered Brain Damage

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http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/florida-boy-amoeba-free-suffered-brain-damage-20027809

"Family members of a 12-year-old Florida boy who was infected by a rare and deadly amoeba say the organism that was attacking his brain is gone.

"According to a Facebook page the family set up to support Zachary Reyna, doctors told family members Wednesday morning that antibiotics defeated the infection, and tests showed negative activity from the amoeba.

"'Thank you Jesus for giving us another day with Zac and another day of hope,' a Wednesday Facebook post said.

"'This is a small victory but we know the battle is not over. Extensive damage was done to his brain and we need to pray for any form of activity to come from his brain... '"

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[AmyStrange]

15. Girl with "brain-eating" amoeba walking and talking, mom says

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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57599588/girl-with-brain-eating-amoeba-walking-and-talking-mom-says/

"LITTLE ROCK, ARK. Kali Hardig, a 12-year-old Arkansas girl who was diagnosed last month with an infection caused by a 'brain-eating' amoeba, is now able to walk and speak.

"The infection is almost always deadly: There were 128 infections reported in the United States between 1962 and 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with only two documented cases of survival -- until Kali.

"'She's not speaking normal, but she is doing wonderful trying to pronounce stuff,' Kali's mother, Traci Hardig, said Wednesday. 'She can say 'yes' and 'no.'' She's also been able to say 'Hi mama,' 'daddy' and 'nanny... '"

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[AmyStrange]

16. Some good news finally...

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she's not out of the woods yet, but still with the missing 12 year old being found dead in Missouri and that Australian baseball player killed for "fun" (just for starters), even a little good news makes me cry a little. It's just a relief to know that not everything is ALL bad bad bad, ya know?

d

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