Survival rate of 7 percent: German boy (14) loses arms and legs after a cold

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On a Thursday at the end of March, Fabian, a 14-year-old student from Mönchengladbach (D), fell ill. “Fabian normally had a cold,” explains father Alexander Abels to the “Rheinische Post”. But it should not stop there.

The 14-year-old does not go to school and stays in bed. But there is no improvement: during the day he vomits and he gets a rash on his skin. In the evening there is still pain in the ribs. Around 10 p.m., Fabian’s parents decide to take him to the hospital. Once there, however, the doctors are unable to find a cause for the boy’s pain.

“Then doctors suddenly panicked”

That night, Fabian develops a fever and his condition rapidly deteriorates. “Then the doctors suddenly panicked,” recalls father Alexander. Fabian suffers from blood poisoning. There is also a thrombosis in the heart. All this leads to his arms and legs no longer being properly supplied with blood.

The doctors must therefore remove the legs below the knees and the arms below the elbows while the student is awake. Despite a 7 percent survival rate, Fabian survives the operation well. His condition continued to improve during the 54 days in ICU.

Fabian is later transferred by helicopter to a clinic in Bavaria, where he receives physiotherapy, psychological care and regular lessons from a teacher. “He fought back little by little,” says Abels.

Parents have to travel far

Fabian’s parents are grateful for every step their son takes. “We are happy with every little thing,” says the father. But the parents are challenged: every weekend they have to drive 680 kilometers to the clinic to see their son.

The family recently launched a call for donations on the Gofundme platform. On July 22, more than 44,000 euros had already been collected. The parents want to use the money to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle so they can be mobile with their Fabian. (obf)

Source: Blick