CentraState - Healthy Directions

9 I nitially, Matthew was not especially concerned; his brother had been suffering from influenza about a week earlier, and Matthew thought he was also coming down with the flu. But by Sunday, he was having trouble breathing, and the night was a struggle. "I was tossing and turning and just couldn't get comfortable all night," Matthew recalls. When discomfort turned to pain on Monday, he knew it was time to seek medical help. Matthew remembers arriving at CentraState Medical Center, but after that his memories are vague; not long after his arrival, he was placed in an induced coma and put on breathing and feeding tubes. What Matthew initially suspected was the flu was actually a particularly vicious case of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS). 'AGGRESSIVE AND UNUSUAL' Alfred DeLuca, MD, a board-certified infectious disease specialist and on staff at CentraState, was part of a team of doctors dedicated to caring for Matthew. Dr. DeLuca recalls that Matthew had a "very aggressive and unusual" case of streptococcal TSS, making it difficult to treat him. The condition occurs when bacteria are in parts of the body that are supposed to be bacteria-free, which creates toxins that give rise to multiple organ failure. In Matthew's case, Dr. DeLuca suspects it began with an infected molar that rapidly spread toxins to his throat, lungs, liver, kidneys, and blood, all of which led to "a lot of collateral damage." Dr. DeLuca explains, "When this strep invades the skin, it is the streptococcal toxin that destroys tissue in its path and the same toxin or toxins that leads to septic shock," Dr. DeLuca says. "This process was happening in Matthew's lungs, severely impairing his ability to oxygenate his blood." Matthew's low blood pressure required medication, referred to as pressors, to maintain his blood pressure at acceptable levels to perfuse the vital organs. "From the minute the team of CentraState doctors saw him, we knew he was as sick as a young man could be and deployed every possible modality to save his life," Dr. DeLuca says. "Among them, intubation/ mechanical ventilation to provide oxygen to vital organs, antibiotic therapy, central venous access, and chest tubes to drain pleural fluid—searching for any condition that would impair his immune defenses." When it was finally revealed what they were dealing with, Matthew was treated with the proper antibiotics. While Matthew was battling for his life in the critical care unit (CCU), his large family was anxiously waiting outside. "It became clear from the first few hours that the CCU was staffed by a group of the kindest, most caring, and most professional people we could have met or have ever hoped to have caring for our son," says Matthew's mother, Helen, who waited many long hours in the CCU with Matthew's family. His wife, Nichole, adds, "Obviously it was the worst time in my life, but the hospital worked hard to help Matt." Nichole Alfred DeLuca, MD board-certified, infectious disease specialist www.centrastate.com Holiday 2014 shares that Matt is a fighter and she knew with the help of the doctors that he would fight for his life. "I loved all of the doctors, especially Dr. DeLuca. He worked day and night to help Matt." Throughout Matthew's time at CentraState, Dr. DeLuca and the staff consistently took the time to update his family, talking to them at length about his condition. "When it became clear that he was recovering, although there was going to be a long period of rehabilitation, he was out of the woods," Dr. DeLuca says. GETTING BACK TO HEALTHY Matthew spent more than two weeks at CentraState, and his recovery has not been easy. He lost 45 pounds while he was sick, and he was wheelchair-bound for a brief period. When he was well enough to walk, he had to rebuild his strength through physical therapy. He's grateful to be back home with Nichole and their twin boys, Jeffrey and Matthew Jr., and he has returned to his regular work schedule, but he is still recovering. A full recovery is expected to take eight to nine months. Though Matthew's illness was a frightening ordeal, the Eberles are thankful that they went through it with such a dedicated staff at CentraState. Nichole comments, "We are all just grateful that we have a happy ending." A relieved Matthew adds, "They were amazing. The doctors are great. The nurses are awesome. They all really cared." To find a CentraState physician, visit www.centrastate.com/ physicians or call 866-CENTRA7 (866-236-8727). HD Common symptoms of streptococcal TSS: • Confusion • Diarrhea • Headaches • High fever, sometimes accompanied by chills • Low blood pressure • Muscle aches • Nausea and vomiting • Organ failure (usually kidneys and liver) • Redness of eyes, mouth, and throat • Seizures • Widespread rash

• Cover