Dog bite turns life-threatening for Ballito hairdresser
Shelley Ann Stegen contracted flesh-eating bacteria that could have killed her and almost caused the loss of her hand.
What began as a minor dog-bite injury almost turned fatal for Ballito hairdresser Shelley Ann Stegen after she contracted a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection last month.
On January 28, Stegen was walking her rescue dogs when she was accidentally bitten while pulling them apart during a fight. Despite immediately cleaning the wound, her hand began to swell and she developed a fever.
Two days later, her doctor admitted her to a hospital in Tongaat, where she received a shocking diagnosis: Streptococcus pyogenes, the aggressive flesh-eating bacterium that can cause life-threatening infections if not treated urgently.
“I didn’t think this was serious,” said Stegen.
“I told the doctor to give me an antibiotic and send me home, but two days later things got worse.”
As the infection spread rapidly, Stegen’s condition deteriorated. She experienced severe heartburn, struggled to breathe and suffered septic shock as the bacteria began attacking her major organs.
“I was technically dying, it’s a horrible feeling. The fear that this would eat away at my entire body was too much to bear.”
The emotional toll was immense. At one point, she feared losing her hand and becoming dependent on her family because she would not be able to work.
“I nearly flipped when they took off the dressing and I saw my hand. But after a while, I said, ‘This cannot be my fate, I must change my mindset. How am I going to help people if I am disabled?’”
Doctors performed three emergency operations to remove dead and infected tissue, ultimately saving her life. Although they initially estimated a four- to six-month recovery period, a skin graft procedure is now being considered in the coming weeks.
“It was a miracle I survived. I am here by the grace of God. I pray that this won’t last forever and that I can get back to work.”
Stegen requires specialised wound care, which is being covered by her medical aid during her extended hospital stay.
To support Stegen, visit Back-a-Buddy: “Helping Hands – Shelley’s Road to Recovery”.
Note: This story has been edited after publication. The detail regarding the need for specialised wound care has been corrected.
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