|
|
 |
SIRH News Release
MEDIA ADVISORY
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2007
|
CONTACT:
Barbara Mackovic
Media Relations
(502) 587-4230 |
Woman Losses Leg
to Disease, but Finds Love in Recovery
(New Albany, IN)
Brittany Bley nearly died in October 2004. She was rushed to the
hospital emergency room with a 105-degree fever and blood pressure
of 40/20. All her organs had shut down except for her heart and
brain. Little did she know that her road to recovery would lead to
the love of her life.
Normally tall and thin, Brittany was admitted to the hospital with
her body so swollen she weighed in at over 200 pounds and doctors
assumed but were never really sure, that she had developed septic
shock and sepsis. She was diagnosed with a flesh eating disease. She
spent over two months in the hospital in intensive care and had her
right leg amputated just below the knee in December. For the single
mother of a six-year-old daughter, the ordeal was devastating.
By the time I got to Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital the first week
of January, Brittany recalled, I weighed just 100 pounds and had
no muscle mass. The biggest thing they did for me was to boost my
morale. Everyone was so positive. She received psychological
support on a daily basis and spent many hours in the therapy gym. I
hated each therapist, she joked, but Im really glad now they
worked me so hard. The nurses were wonderful too.
The entire experience gave Brittany far more than she could have
anticipated she ended up marrying the prosthestist, who fitted her
for her new leg! I told Doctor (John) Shaw when I first came in
that all I wanted to do was jump rope, Brittany recalled. My
daughter, Molly, was into doing that and I wanted to have fun with
her. I had to heal first before I could be fitted for a new leg.
Being fitted for her new leg was when she was introduced to Bill
Bley, her prosthestist. After leaving Southern Indiana Rehab
Hospital, the two struck up a friendship that developed into a long
term relationship. Brittany and Bill were married on November 19,
2005 and became a family of six, Brittany and her daughter Molly,
Bill and his three children, Bill, Jr., Kimberly and Katie.
She is never still. I keep a house, she says, I cook, clean and
work in the garden. She also exercises constantly, is active in her
church and is starting an amputee support group at Southern Indiana
Rehab Hospital, since one is really needed.
I continue to be grateful every day for Southern Indiana Rehab,
says Brittany. How do you thank everyone here for giving you your
life back?
###
Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital (SIRH) is a 60-bed inpatient and
outpatient, not-for-profit hospital owned in a unique partnership
with three of the areas most respected health care leaders: Frazier
Rehab Institute, Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services and
Clark Memorial Hospital. Since 1994, SIRH has been providing
inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational, speech and
neuropsychology therapy services to children and adults suffering
from injuries, illnesses and disabilities.
|
|
View all recent news releases |
 |
