What I am writing now is something even more horrible than what you might have read in a Stephen King's scariest of novels.
My father, Mr. Ahmed, aged about sixty years old, had just a mild fever on December 10, 2002. We took him to a doctor who diagnosed gangrene of the right big toe and suggested the name of a doctor who could treat him. So we took my dad there.
He was admitted but no proper treatment was done until December 19, 2002. By this time the gangrene had infected his entire right foot. The doctor misguided us and said it was okay and there was no need to panic, but by this time, we had inquired a little about the disease.
When we asked the doctor for a clear diagnosis, he got annoyed and instead asked us to get a medicine called "Anti-gas gangrene human anti sera amp." We searched everywhere but could not locate the drug.
Eventually my father's entire right leg was amputated above the knee. But even the doctor was not able to save his life, and my father died on January 26, 2003.
My advice to all is never delay the treatment of gangrene. It is very dangerous. Ask your doctor to act immediately and cut the part affected as soon as possible. Kidney failure, vomiting blood, heart toxicity/failure may become the cause of death in these patients.
Aziz Email: [email protected] Story edited 08-12-05 JTD Storoy posted 08-15-05 SLE ISN Senior Artist: Sherrill Knaggs Story Editor: Judith Devlin |
LINKS Gangrene Support Groups: India Survivor Stories (In Memory Of) |
Sherrill Knaggs, ISN Artist, created the digital photo to illustrate the story on this page. Sherrill lived in New Zealand. Her story was featured in ISN's book, Voices of Scleroderma Volume 2.
Judith Thompson Devlin is the ISN Story Editor for this story. She is also lead editor of the ISN's wonderful Voices of Scleroderma book series!
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