A Father Went To The Hospital With Stomach Pain. He Left Without His Hands And Feet

#1

Kevin Breen, 44, father of three kids and husband of a beautiful and loving wife. His life was going really well. He could never imagine the dismal fate was waiting for him. Just two days after Christmas, Kevin Breen fell ill with what appeared to be a harmless infection, everything suddenly changed.

#2

He started experiencing the flu-like symptoms and stomach pains two days after Christmas. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors tried to pinpoint what was wrong with him. The doctors were baffled at first because he still seemed to have the straightforward flu, yet his symptoms were getting worse and worse.

#3

He was diagnosed with sudden inflammation of the pancreas and admitted. By evening, there was no amount of medication that could soothe his pain.

#4

A CT scan soon revealed his stomach was filled with infected pus. In fact, after performing an exploratory surgery, doctors found 1.5 liters of it inside his abdomen.

#5

Doctors thought he might have a ruptured ulcer or organ puncture. He began to suffer organ failure as doctors worked to diagnose his condition.

#6

His body had cut off blood supply to his limbs in order to protect essential organs. Time kept passing without a solution which caused the flesh of his hands and feet to die.

Still, the cause of Breen’s ailment wasn't known.

#7

Breen developed a rash on his upper torso and doctors eventually tested for signs of streptococcal after learning his three-year-old son had previously had strep throat.

Finally, a breakthrough explained what had happened.

#8

The strep infection had traveled from Breen's throat into his stomach, where it was particularly difficult to fight. He was rushed into the ICU and placed on a ventilator after going into severe septic shock. His kidneys were failing and he had to be attached to a dialysis machine.

"He was one of the sickest patients I have ever taken care of," told Dr. Elizabeth Steensma, an acute care surgeon on Breen's case.

#9

It was too late to save the tissue that had already died. His hands and feet turned black and lost almost all movement so doctors said they both hands and feet would have to be amputated.

#10

When he was finally out of danger, he was allowed to recover at home with his wife Julie and their three children while awaiting the necessary operations.

“I never thought going in for a stomachache and coming out a totally different person,” told Breen.

#11

He now relies on his wife to do pretty much everything. Throughout this whole ordeal, Breen has continued to smile. He’s not bitter, but happy to be alive and thankful for the doctors who saved him.

Breen’s case is rare, Steensma says it comes with a lesson for everyone:

“The biggest thing to learn from this is, if you aren’t feeling well, go be seen. If you are still having symptoms, go be evaluated,” she said.