Wendy B.

Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis is an uncommon, yet clinically significant infection that rapidly progresses to involve the deep neck spaces. Early recognition and aggressive surgical intervention and debridement are important, as this disease is associated with a high morbidity and mortality.  

One morning in 2008 I woke up at 2:00am in some kind of seizure. I was rushed to the hospital and was admitted immediately with Sepsis & Necrotizing Fasciitis.

The next 25 days were an absolute nightmare. Necrotizing Fasciitis was in my right jaw, neck, upper chest and right shoulder. Treatment was twice daily bedside debridement with horrific pain, a heavy blanket of antibiotics, blood transfusions and several surgeries under anesthesia. If my bed had been closer to the plug I would have pulled it myself. I was living & working in a small Caribbean Country at the time and was fortunate that the doctors I needed were on the island at the time I needed them.

My physical health never bounced back to pre-sepsis condition and I could no longer meet the demands of my job. I returned to Canada in 2011 with a full disability pension. Needless to say, health care is much better in Canada.