A healthcare worker from Florida faces losing both of her hands due to complications arising from her 5-month battle with COVID-19.
41-year-old Rosa Felipe had been working as an EEG technician at Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital for over 15 years before getting diagnosed with the killer bug back in March.
Following her diagnosis, Felipe, who is overweight and has asthma and diabetes, was hospitalized and put on a ventilator due to her condition continuing to deteriorate.
As the Herald reported, she was later also placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine to allow her organs to rest. Eventually, after showing signs of kidney failure, the mother also needed to undergo dialysis.
While spending months at the hospital helped save her life, the healthcare worker now faces losing both of her hands due to the severe muscle and tissue damage she had suffered.
As the doctors believe, the 41-year-old most likely developed blood clots whereas low blood flow resulted in an insufficient supply of blood to her fingers which consecutively turned black.
According to the Herald, a surgical team has confirmed that the healthcare worker will most likely have to undergo the amputation of both of her hands. As they reportedly hope, however, they might be able to save a few fingers on Felipe’s left hand.
As for the mom-of-two, she remains focused on her recovery so that she can be reunited with her sons as soon as possible.
“I know that in the end, I’m going to be with them… I know that. So that’s what keeps me focused, and it keeps me wanting to heal and wanting to get out of here fully restored,” the brave mom said in an interview with CNN.
To help Felipe pay for the medical expenses arising from her hospitalization and health complications, the mother’s family has set up a GoFundMe page and asked people for help in easing her burden.
Replaced!