E. coli Victim Stephanie Smith Out of Coma After Nine Weeks
December 31st, 2007 laurie
20-year old dance teacher Stephanie Smith has been in a drug-induced coma for the past nine weeks after she ate E. coli contaminated ground beef from Sam’s Club. Doctors put Stephanie into a coma in attempt to save her life. Her seizures, complications of advanced E. coli poisoning, were so severe it isn’t yet known how much brain damage was done. For now her mother, Sharon Smith, is content to see her daughter move her fingers and wink. Because she’s hooked up to breathing tubes, it’s still unknown whether Stephanie is (or will be) able to speak.
Stephanie Smith was one of the victims of this year’s Minnesota E.
coli outbreak linked to American Chef’s Selection Angus Beef Patties purchased at Sam’s Club stores in August and September. The meat was recalled, but not before a handful of people, mostly children, some of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 illness include stomach cramps, which can be severe, and diarrhea. Diarrhea begins as loose, watery stools, with stools often turning bloody within 1-3 days. E. coli O157:H7 disease sometimes leads to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can include kidney failure.
