Man has hands and feet amputated after catching Victorian disease from a flea
A man had both his arms and parts of his feet amputated after catching typhus from a flea bite. Michael Kohlhof, from Houston, Texas, suffered a severe flea bite that led to a rare case of typhus, causing him to go into septic shock.
He was rushed to the ICU and given various medical treatments to save his life. After 11 days, he survived but developed dry gangrene in his hands and feet due to the medications used.
As a result, both his arms were amputated up to the forearms, and part of his feet had to be removed. Michael's family was alerted to his critical condition, and he narrowly avoided brain death.
In a gofundme campaign to help cover the medical expenses, his mother, JLeene Hardaway expressed her devastation at her son's illness. She described Michael as intelligent, comical, and curious, always spreading happiness and eager to learn.
JLeene explained how on June 19, Michael was taken to the ER with flu-like symptoms but was later admitted to the ICU with septic shock. His health deteriorated rapidly, and he required extensive medical interventions, including being put on a ventilator and various medications.
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Michael Kohlhof's mother J'Lenne Hardaway, and his brother Greg (Fox 26 Houston)It was discovered that the cause of sepsis was typhus resulting from a severe flea bite, leading to complications like dry gangrene in his hands and feet. Despite the grim situation, Michael defied the odds and showed signs of improvement after being taken off sedation.
However, he had to undergo several surgeries, including the amputation of both hands up to his forearms and the possibility of further surgeries for his feet.
His mother said: "Michael has strength and will be undergoing an excruciating amount of surgeries, therapies and rehabilitation, mostly to restore activities of daily living. But he shouldn't have to worry about the financial pain. The more I research, the more I'm astonished at what can be done, but it's always at a cost."
The flea-borne typhus that he suffered from is extremely rare in the US (Getty Images)His partner, Alishpa Masood, told KHOU11: "He has gone beyond our expectations as far as strength and bravery. He has a really positive outlook that we are all proud of."
Michael's brother, Greg Kohlhof, told KENS5: "He almost died once or twice. They were worried about him being brain dead."
The flea-borne typhus that he suffered from is extremely rare in the US, typically found in tropical and subtropical climates. If not treated promptly, it can severely damage multiple organs.
Michael did not experience symptoms until it was too late, and immediate medical attention saved his life, although with significant physical consequences.
Despite the loss of his hands, Michael's family supports him and encourages him to find new ways to pursue his passions using his mind.
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