 |
From Local News
Brought to you by The Party Center
Gadsden man nearly loses arm to flesh eating bacteria
Thursday, May 24, 2012
After two years of marriage Kody Gewalt and his wife, Megan were preparing for the birth of their little girl. They were looking forward to making their family complete but two and a half months ago their world was turned upside down. "I just started noticing that I had a small bump come up and then it just started progressing. And overnight my arm swelled real good and then it was so much pain I couldn't stand it," said Kody. Kody went to Gadsden Regional Medical Center on a Friday. He was sent home that night with antibiotics but less than 24 hours later he had to go into surgery where doctors tried to stop the bacteria from spreading. Kody said he didn't know if he would come out of surgery with his arm intact. "In one of the pictures where I was so knocked out they had the line going up my arm where they was going to cut it if they couldn't get all the infection out." Megan said the expierience was, "very terrifying." At the time she was 7 months pregnant. "I didn't know, the first time we thought he might have to have his arm cut off or not," said Megan. Kody's doctor said he most likely had Streptococcus, a common flesh eating bacteria and one he has never seen in the Gadsden area. It's a bacteria that almost cost Kody his arm. "If I had gotten there four hours later they would have had to cut it right off here because it would have gotten that worse, that bad," said Kody. Almost three months later Kody still doesn't have feeling in part of his arm and most likely never will. But he said he does have enough strength to hold his baby girl. Kody's doctor said he doesn't know exactly what caused Kody to get the flesh eating bacteria but says it most likely will not come back since it's been treated.
Here's More...
Dental Health is Important for Children's 'Baby Teeth'
Lamb Chops and Red Wine: A Perfect Easter Pairing
Alabama Department of Public Health issues 2016 Fish Consumption
Aquarium animals and plants should never be released in the wild
Keywords: Gadsden, flesh eating bacteria, Gadsden Regional Medical Center,
Visit Local News
Reader Comments
There currently are no approved comments for this blog article. To join the discussion click here.
Article Archive
From Our Blogs
Books Make Great Easter Gifts for Kids 
Shopping Local Can Benefit You and Your Community
Tips to Refresh Your Look
Survey Unmasks the Peculiar Behaviors of Pet Owners
Sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Our Website Sponsors
Valley Heating and Cooling
Sunny King Toyota
Allstate Insurance- Jerry McCullers
Sunny King Honda
Artificial Limb & Brace