Ohio Mother Loses Arms and Legs After Flu Infection
Kristin Fox, a 42-year-old mother and high-school principal in Ohio, experienced a devastating outcome from the flu that led to the loss of her arms and legs. Her ordeal began in March 2020, just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world. Fox initially developed a sore throat and later tested positive for the flu at urgent care. Despite receiving the flu vaccine in November, her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Fox’s friend, a nurse, took her blood pressure and oxygen levels, which were dangerously low. She rushed Fox to a nearby hospital, where she was placed on a ventilator within 30 minutes. Fox had developed bacterial pneumonia, leading to organ failure. Her kidneys were shutting down, and one of her lungs had collapsed. However, the medical team was unaware that she was already in septic shock, a life-threatening infection causing organ failure and plummeting blood pressure.
The hospital prepared for Fox’s potential demise and even brought in a priest. However, she miraculously survived the night. By Thursday, doctors discovered that Fox was septic and placed her in a medically induced coma to save her vital organs. The doctors warned her family that they might have to amputate some of her fingers or toes to maintain her organ function.
Over the next few weeks, Fox’s condition remained touch and go. On March 26, doctors informed her family that they would need to amputate her legs below the knees. Despite her mother’s pleas to wait, the doctors explained that delaying the procedure would worsen the infection. A day later, Fox underwent the amputation. Her arms were amputated almost two weeks later.
Following the surgeries, Fox slowly emerged from her coma. She was confused and unaware of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, within 72 hours, she no longer required a ventilator and was transferred out of the intensive care unit. After wrapping herself like a mummy to hide her amputations from her children, Fox began physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rehabilitation Institute.
During her rehabilitation, Fox faced setbacks, including a collapsed lung and additional therapy sessions. However, in October 2020, she received custom-made prosthetics for her arms and legs through an organization called 50 Legs in Orlando, Florida. These prosthetics have transformed her life, providing her with the freedom to navigate the world. Although she primarily uses her prosthetic legs, she has learned to live without her arms.
Despite the challenges, Fox returned to work as an assistant principal at Campbell High School, determined not to let her disability hinder her quality of life. She credits her family and students for motivating her to keep moving forward. Fox’s resilience has served as an inspiration to her students, teaching them about respecting differences and overcoming barriers. She believes that no matter the circumstances, every day presents tough moments that can be overcome with perseverance.
