A woman lost all her limbs after doing a perfectly 'normal' thing as she walked into her home.
Marie Trainer had just returned from the time of her life in the spring of 2019 after enjoying a tropical holiday. While she was gutted to be back from vacation, Marie received a warm welcome home from her dog.
It was a common occurrence for her to be greeted with kisses by her beloved pooch, and the Ohio resident didn't think twice about the small cut on her hand at the time.
The days that followed Marie's return were truly unexpected as her condition quickly deteriorated.
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Matt Trainer, her husband, saw her health rapidly decline so urged her to get checked out at a local hospital.
"I wasn’t feeling well and just got sicker and sicker," Marie explained.
After seeking medical attention, things progressed even further as Marie slipped into a coma.
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Subsequent tests concluded Marie had contracted a rare infection from bacteria called capnocytophaga canimorsus.
Medical experts believe the bacteria entered Marie's immune system after her dog licked the open wound on her hand.
That is because the bacteria is commonly found in the salvia of both cats and dogs.
While it's extremely rare, capnocytophaga bacteria can cause serious issues such as sepsis, heart attack, kidney failure, severe blood clots and gangrene.
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Thankfully, Marie did survive the terrible ordeal, but she did lose both of her legs and arms after they had been amputated.
Dr. Ajay Seth, who treated Marie, told Fox News: "It was just rapidly progressing where her hands and feet were turning black."
Dr Seth was determined to save as much as possible despite being initially advised to amputate all four limbs at the torso.
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In the end, the Ohio mom had both of her legs amputated up to her knees while doctors were also able to save large parts of her arms.
While that's a better outcome than first feared, it doesn't mean it hasn't been tough for Marie.
"It’s been challenging," she said. "Learning how to walk was the hardest thing, but I’m good, I’m doing good."
Marie has since bee fitted with myoelectric prosthetics, allowing her to enjoy activities such as gardening once more.
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"We see the light at the end of the tunnel, we just adjust what we have to do, it just takes more planning when we want to do something," Marie's husband said.
Callum Jones