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Angel Diaz Fights Flesh Eating Disease

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I created this page to help my good friend, Angel Diaz, and his wife and their 10 year old son.  He is in the hospital battling a Flesh Eating Disease.  On April 8th, Angel thought he had a stomach bug and stayed home sick from work.  By night time, he was having a lot of pain in his right leg.  In the morning he didn't see anything wrong, it just still hurt a lot so his wife took him to urgent care.  When the doctors there looked at his leg, it had suddenly broken out with large, dark blisters.  They immediately sent him to Baystate Medical Center.  There he was quickly diagnosed with Necrotizing Fasciitis - better known as Flesh Eating Disease.  This is a devastating, fast acting bacteria that can destroy skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles within a very short time.  Necrotizing fasciitis is caused by several kinds of bacteria. Some of these bacteria also cause infections such as strep throat and impetigo. Usually the infections caused by these bacteria are mild. But in rare cases they can cause a more dangerous infection, especially for those with compromised immune systems (Angel has diabetes).

Angel was immediately admitted into the hospital and had surgery that first night.  Doctors removed flesh from his leg, trying to stop the infection.  Within a few short days, he had a second surgery on his leg and was on dialysis because his kidneys stopped functioning.  After the second surgery, overnight he lost a lot of blood and suffered two small strokes.  He needed a transfusion of 6 units of blood.  He then had a few days that seemed more stable, but again required more surgery to the same leg and more blood transfusions.  Doctors are unsure whether or not he will need dialysis permanetly.

It's been a real roller coaster of a journey so far.  He's been in the hospital for 16 days now.  At this point in time, Angel is doing a little better but he has a long road ahead of him.  He's had four surgeries so far with another scheduled for today.  Doctors recently told his wife that on that first day he was admitted, he was the sickest patient in the hospital and they didn't think he'd make it.  But he has come a long way - he is a fighter!  He has family and friends praying for him every minute of every day.  We are very hopeful he will recover from this horrific infection.  Doctors say he will probably be in the hospital at least another 2-3 weeks if things go well and then he'll need to go to a rehab center for another month or two.  After rehab he'll need to return to the hospital for skin graft surgery.

We appreciate any and all support!  All donations received will go to help with any medical expenses not covered by insurance, as well as living expenses for his family as he is not expected to be able to return to work for at least six months.  If you are unable to contribute, please still share this page to spread the word.  Thanks!
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Donations 

  • Janet Andrews
    • $50 
    • 10 yrs
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Organizer

Nancy Cote
Organizer
Granby, MA

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