Stacey Harris, Windsor-area mom, dies of flesh-eating necrotizing fasciitis
Necrotizing fasciitis is part of Group A streptococcus, the same organism that causes strep throat
An Ontario woman who contracted the so-called flesh eating disease after giving birth to her second child in a Windsor hospital has died at Victoria Hospital in London.
Stacey Harris, 30, of Essex County died Monday.
After contracting necrotizing fasciitis, Harris was transferred to London for treatment.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has launched an investigation to determine how Harris was infected. The name of the hospital where she gave birth wasn't released.
The funeral will be held at Reid Funeral Home in Essex, 30 kilometres southeast of Windsor, on Friday.
Harris leaves behind a husband and two children, according to an obituary on the funeral home's website.
"Stacey was truly loved by a large circle of friends," the obituary reads. "The family would like to thank all of the staff at both University and Victoria Hospitals in London for the care and compassion which went above and beyond."
An online fundraiser for Harris that was hosted through the website Gofundme.com had raised more than $42,000, nearly three times the original $15,000 goal.
According to a Facebook page, a pasta dinner was also planned for the end of the month.
Necrotizing fasciitis is part of Group A streptococcus, the same organism that causes strep throat.
Dr. Michael Silverman, chief of infectious diseases at London Health Sciences Centre, said necrotizing fasciitis is an "extremely complex and difficult disease to treat."
Symptoms include:
- Changes in skin colour.
- Flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Blisters on the skin.
- Painful, red, hot, and swollen areas.
- Extreme pain or pain which seems too great for an injury.