A 7-year-old Phoenix girl is facing a challenging recovery after contracting a severe case of group A Streptococcus, leading to multiple amputations. Victoria Pasten-Morales was diagnosed with a bacterial infection that typically causes strep throat, but in this severe instance, it progressed to sepsis, causing her body to go into a dangerous, life-threatening state.
After feeling unwell in the early morning hours of February 28, her condition rapidly declined, she woke up around midnight and by the morning her entire body was swelling her whole body started turning purple, according to statements obtained by AZFamily. Dr. Sean Elliott, a Tucson pediatric infectious disease specialist who has not treated Victoria, explained in an interview with AZFamily how sepsis can lead to organ failure and tissue death, comparing the effects to those of frostbite, where deprived tissues develop gangrene, Elliott stressed that such a severe reaction can happen very quickly, often overnight, to otherwise healthy individuals. Victoria endured a total of nine surgeries, which included the amputation of both her hands and feet to stop the spread of the infection.
Victoria's parents, Victor Pasten and Obdulia Morales have been by their daughter's side throughout her hospital stay at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Her father, Victor, told FOX7 Austin, "Everything happened very fast it occurred very fast, We don't know where it came from, but it all happened in less than 12 hours." The family's plight has garnered attention, with a GoFundMe set up to assist with the medical expenses and recovery process.
While the exact source of the infection remains a mystery, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently issued an advisory concerning a more invasive strain of group A strep, Dr. Elliott noted to AZFamily that vigilant hand washing is the best prevention against such an illness, as the family now navigates the difficult road ahead, "It's not going to be easy for her, it's going to be hard but, she's strong, she's a warrior," Obdulia told AZFamily about her daughter's spirit in the face of adversity. Despite the pain and adjustments Victoria must now make, her parents remain grateful for her survival and are preparing to support her through extensive physical therapy. Victor Pasten expressed the new reality for his daughter who loved to paint and play: "This is going to be difficult for her because she's going to see herself very differently."
