After losing his limb due to a rare bacterial infection, a nurse in Arizona is acclimating to his new normal (KPHO/Gray News).
Ed Rivas, 49, sliced his foot on something while on vacation with his family in Florida a few months ago.
His foot swelled up and became purple when he returned home to Arizona, but he didn’t give it any thought.
He was diagnosed with a severe infection that had spread to his bloodstream at a local hospital.
Within days, medical professionals informed Rivas that in order to save his life, the lower portion of his left leg would have to be amputated.
According to Rivas, the first three of the four procedures they performed were to save the foot and remove the infection. I don’t recall every day of my 15 days in the hospital.
Rivas has been a nurse for 16 years, assisting people, but now he is the one who needs help.
He acknowledges that the change has not been simple.
According to Rivas, everything takes a lot longer. The process of getting dressed, using the restroom, and traveling to and from work takes longer.
Rivas, a father and husband, is currently unable to work, which has caused his family to face financial difficulties.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with bill payment.
“I’m determined to get back to helping others,” Rivas stated.
Rivas stated, “I do intend to return to work without any restrictions, and I hope to get a prosthetic.” I want to return to work.
Nevertheless, his wife is glad to have him by her side despite the new difficulties.
His wife, Maria Rivas, said, “He went through so much in such a short period of time that I wasn’t sure he was coming home, honestly.”
According to Ed Rivas, he is still unsure of what he stepped on in Florida.
Ed Rivas was infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, according to the GoFundMe website.
This particular strain of the staph bacteria is responsible for infections that are challenging to cure.
It’s excellent that he went to the emergency room when he did, even though doctors warned him that what he had experienced was quite uncommon.
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