Brazil model who lost hands, feet fights for life
By TALES AZZONI,Associated Press Writer AP - Saturday, January 24
SAO PAULO, Brazil - A Brazilian model whose feet and hands were amputated because of an infection is clinging to life at an intensive care unit in southeastern Brazil.
Mariana Bridi's condition deteriorated overnight and was changed from "serious" to "very serious" on Friday, the Espirito Santo State Health Secretariat said in a statement.
The 20-year-old beauty _ who was twice a finalist in the Brazilian stage of the Miss World pageant _ is suffering a generalized infection that forced the amputation of her hands and feet because the flow of oxygen to her limbs was reduced.
Her feet were amputated last week, and earlier this week doctors were forced to surgically remove her hands.
Bridi also underwent surgery to have part of her stomach removed as doctors tried to contain internal bleeding, local media said.
"The only thing that matters now is her life," boyfriend Thiago Simoes told Globo TV's G1 Web site.
Bridi is not breathing on her own and is undergoing hemodialysis at a hospital in the city of Serra, the secretariat said.
Bridi fell ill in December and doctors originally diagnosed her with kidney stones, local media said. But her condition worsened and she was then diagnosed with a urinary tract infection that spread.
Doctors said the infection was caused by the life-threatening bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is known to be resistant to multiple kinds of antibiotics.
She was hospitalized on Jan 3.
By TALES AZZONI,Associated Press Writer AP - Saturday, January 24
SAO PAULO, Brazil - A Brazilian model whose feet and hands were amputated because of an infection is clinging to life at an intensive care unit in southeastern Brazil.
Mariana Bridi's condition deteriorated overnight and was changed from "serious" to "very serious" on Friday, the Espirito Santo State Health Secretariat said in a statement.
The 20-year-old beauty _ who was twice a finalist in the Brazilian stage of the Miss World pageant _ is suffering a generalized infection that forced the amputation of her hands and feet because the flow of oxygen to her limbs was reduced.
Her feet were amputated last week, and earlier this week doctors were forced to surgically remove her hands.
Bridi also underwent surgery to have part of her stomach removed as doctors tried to contain internal bleeding, local media said.
"The only thing that matters now is her life," boyfriend Thiago Simoes told Globo TV's G1 Web site.
Bridi is not breathing on her own and is undergoing hemodialysis at a hospital in the city of Serra, the secretariat said.
Bridi fell ill in December and doctors originally diagnosed her with kidney stones, local media said. But her condition worsened and she was then diagnosed with a urinary tract infection that spread.
Doctors said the infection was caused by the life-threatening bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is known to be resistant to multiple kinds of antibiotics.
She was hospitalized on Jan 3.
