An Upper Arlington High School senior remained in critical condition Tuesday after losing both his legs to a flesh-eating bacterial infection.
Doctors amputated Blake Haxton's legs after the 18-year-old was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis -- a rare infection that spreads underneath the skin, 10TV's Lindsey Seavert reported.
Haxton, 18, was coaching basketball in a recreation league tournament last week when he complained about pain in his lower leg. Within a short period, doctors determined that the teenager had developed necrotizing fasciitis and Haxton's legs were amputated in order to stop the infection from spreading to the rest of his body.
Haxton, described by his coaches as one of the best high school rowers in the state, is recovering at The Ohio State University Medical Center.
Late Monday afternoon, doctors said they were cautiously optimistic about Haxton's recovery after his heart began beating on its own and he was removed from life support.
While doctors have yet to determine how Haxton contracted the infection, a central Ohio man who fought and survived necrotizing fasciitis spoke with 10TV News about how his life was altered by the infection, 10TV's Lindsey Seavert reported.
Mike Castle, 55, of Bexley, said he was fixing a fan at his home when he fell and injured his hamstring. A short time later he developed an infection in his leg.
After four months in the hospital and 30 surgeries, Castle woke up and saw what was left of his leg.
"I looked underneath the sheet to see what they had done and I saw a big gap in my leg," Castle said. "You could see straight down into it."
Castle said he does not remember much of his time in the hospital, but does recall asking doctors if he had the disease that eats skin.
Castle eventually recovered, but still has constant reminders of the infection.
"You are in constant pain," Castle said. "You know it's there all the time. It never quits."
Despite the physical and emotional scars left by the infection, Castle said he is often reminded of the first words he wrote after waking up from the ordeal.
"All I wrote was 'God is good and God is mighty,'" Castle said.
After learning about Haxton's diagnosis, Castle said he started a prayer list at Grove City Church of the Nazarene centered on the teenager.
"I believe God had his hand on me," Castle said. "I believe God is working on Blake right now."
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March 23, 2009: Student Contracts Flesh-Eating Bacteria
