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SANFORD, Fla. -- It should have been the happiest time of her life. Instead, it was worse than any nightmare she could ever imagine.
A local woman went to the hospital to have a baby, and while she was there, she contracted a flesh-eating bacteria, WESH 2 News reported.
Doctors had to amputate both her arms and both her legs to save her. That was one year ago, and she's still searching for answers.
Claudia Mejia knows her life will never be the same. Twelve days after giving birth to her son Matthew, doctors gave her a choice no one would ever want to make.
"If I want to live, they want to cut off my arms and legs. If I don't, I'll keep my arms and legs but I'll die. Is this a dream?" Mejia said.
One year later, and she still doesn't know how she contracted Strep A and doesn't know why.
"Every day I ask myself what happened. What they don't want to tell me. I just want some information," she said.
South Seminole Hospital said it can't answer her without violating other patients' privacy rights. Her husband has a different concern -- their son.
"When Matthew gets older, we don't want the blame thing going on. We don't want him to think it's his fault she's like this," said her husband Tim Edwards.
Mejia said she dreams of walks on the beach. She wears her wedding ring on a chain around her neck. She's grateful for what she has but admits it can be a struggle.
"Take one day at a time because it's hard to see yourself. One day you're fine, the next day you're not," she said.
"She's a great strong woman. I don't know if I'd have been able to do it," Edwards said.
It's the simplest things from Matthew that bring her joy.
"The way that he points to something. Instead of pointing with his finger, he points like this. Like me," Mejia said.
He doesn't know it now, but his mom is doing the unthinkable -- turning devastation into strength and inspiration.
"I think God does stuff we don't understand. There's a purpose for everything, so I just wait," Mejia said.
Claudia and her husband have filed a lawsuit, not for money, but for information, to try to find out where the bacteria came from. They may get their answer in a hearing in two weeks.
A trust fund has been set up for Matthew. If you'd like to donate, go to any Wachovia Bank and ask to donate to the Claudia Mejia, Tim and Matthew Edwards fund. Its number is: 1010136105318
SANFORD, Fla. -- It should have been the happiest time of her life. Instead, it was worse than any nightmare she could ever imagine.
A local woman went to the hospital to have a baby, and while she was there, she contracted a flesh-eating bacteria, WESH 2 News reported.
Doctors had to amputate both her arms and both her legs to save her. That was one year ago, and she's still searching for answers.
Claudia Mejia knows her life will never be the same. Twelve days after giving birth to her son Matthew, doctors gave her a choice no one would ever want to make.
"If I want to live, they want to cut off my arms and legs. If I don't, I'll keep my arms and legs but I'll die. Is this a dream?" Mejia said.
One year later, and she still doesn't know how she contracted Strep A and doesn't know why.
"Every day I ask myself what happened. What they don't want to tell me. I just want some information," she said.
South Seminole Hospital said it can't answer her without violating other patients' privacy rights. Her husband has a different concern -- their son.
"When Matthew gets older, we don't want the blame thing going on. We don't want him to think it's his fault she's like this," said her husband Tim Edwards.
Mejia said she dreams of walks on the beach. She wears her wedding ring on a chain around her neck. She's grateful for what she has but admits it can be a struggle.
"Take one day at a time because it's hard to see yourself. One day you're fine, the next day you're not," she said.
"She's a great strong woman. I don't know if I'd have been able to do it," Edwards said.
It's the simplest things from Matthew that bring her joy.
"The way that he points to something. Instead of pointing with his finger, he points like this. Like me," Mejia said.
He doesn't know it now, but his mom is doing the unthinkable -- turning devastation into strength and inspiration.
"I think God does stuff we don't understand. There's a purpose for everything, so I just wait," Mejia said.
Claudia and her husband have filed a lawsuit, not for money, but for information, to try to find out where the bacteria came from. They may get their answer in a hearing in two weeks.
A trust fund has been set up for Matthew. If you'd like to donate, go to any Wachovia Bank and ask to donate to the Claudia Mejia, Tim and Matthew Edwards fund. Its number is: 1010136105318
