A heroic new mother had to have both arms and legs amputated after suffering toxic shock during childbirth as her baby was born weighing just 2lb 8oz.
Brie Morgan Bauer, 35, of Kansas City, was rushed to the hospital on February 17 for an emergency C-section when she was just 27 weeks old.
Her third child, Beau, was born weighing 2 pounds, 8 ounces, but as doctors stabilized the baby and transported him to the NICU, Brie’s condition declined.
He developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and was left in a coma.
Over the next few weeks, he required countless surgeries and eventually had to have all four of his limbs amputated.
Brie Morgan Bauer, 35, of Kansas City, had to have both arms and legs amputated after suffering toxic shock during childbirth, as her baby, Beau, was born at just 2 pounds, 8 ounces.
Brie first went to the hospital on February 17 after experiencing “several days of feeling like the flu: body aches and malaise.”
Doctors determined she was in labor and her baby was in danger, so they sent her for an emergency C-section when she was just 27 weeks old.
Beau was born, but Brie lost a lot of blood in the operating room and her condition quickly worsened.
A GoFundMe setup to support the family says: ‘The medical team fought to get oxygen to his fluid-filled lungs and to stop his bleeding. Brie began to suffer from organ failure.
Doctors put her in an induced coma and told her family she was “unlikely to survive the night.”
But Brie stuck it out, and the next day lab results revealed she had developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
The infection was concentrated in her uterus and required an emergency hysterectomy.
Over the next few weeks, he “battled infections, setbacks, and endured amputations on all four limbs.”
At surgery, doctors discovered that part of his colon had died and he had to undergo another major surgery, his third in less than 72 hours, to place an ostomy.
He survived the procedures, but the medication he was taking had begun to affect all four of his limbs.
The GoFundMe says: “His hands and feet were turning black from lack of blood flow; discussions about amputation were inevitable.”
Brie was still in a coma and only woke up briefly so her husband could say, ‘Brie, it’s Reid. The baby is safe, he is beautiful and looks like you.
Over the next few weeks, he “battled infections, setbacks, and endured amputations on all four limbs.”
‘His right arm, just above the elbow. His left arm, just below the elbow. His right leg, which is at hip height. And his left leg, just above the knee.
The family has shared their trip on social media, gaining 369,000 followers.
In mid-May, Beau was released from the hospital without complications and Brie was transferred to rehab, where she is learning to adjust after the amputations.
The GoFundMe says: ‘The work is both mental and physical and it’s all exhausting.
“She’s processing the trauma and pain, while also having to overcome the mental hurdle of exploring prosthetics.”
The family has shared their trip on social media, gaining 369,000 followers.
Her latest post, from Sunday, shows Brie outside the hospital, getting around in her motorized wheelchair.
The caption reads: ‘What a difference a week and a half makes!
‘I couldn’t be more proud of our girl for her amazing rehabilitation. Thank you to the OT and PT teams for helping her break down barriers.’
Beau is cared for by his father, Reid, with the help of his grandparents.
The family said: “We are grateful to have a very close-knit family that works together to keep everything moving.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, their GoFundMe has raised more than $350,000.
They say the money will be used “to help offset medical costs, prosthetics, home renovation and other needs.”
They added: ‘Meanwhile, Beau is busy doing usual baby things. He’s been home for a couple of weeks, but still visits Brie in rehab frequently.