NNFF Dedication - Jean M. Dutton

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Jean M. Dutton

September 6, 1943 - January 13, 2008

I lost my mother to NF on January 13, 2008 only 24 hours after the doctors determined what type of infection she had. I still don't know how Mom got this bacteria since she had not had any recent surgeries or obvious injuries. The last time I spoke with her she was headed home from work with a fever and flu-like symptoms, and her plan was to take some Tylenol and sleep it off. She told me to call her after my work, but I never did. The next morning, I received a call from the ICU at the hospital indicating that my mother was there and was extremely ill. By this time she was already in kidney failure, had dangerously low blood pressure, and had been sedated. Due to the extreme bruising showing up on her shoulder and neck, they decided to take her into surgery to debreed the tissue. This is when they determined they were dealing with NF. The next afternoon, after antibiotics, dialysis, and every other treatment under the sun they could think of, my mother lost the battle and passed away as I was stroking her hair. It is only now, about 17 months later, that I am able to write about this. She was a wonderful, loving mother & grandmother, and cherished every minute of life.

NF is a horrible, horrible bacteria and we must do everything we can to get the word out there that this exists. With more efficient testing and earlier detection maybe some lives can be saved!!

Heather Dutton
heatherdutton@cox.net
June 2009

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