Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

“Each day is a victory,” writes Lisa Oakes, sister of Kim Oakes, the Canadian animal control officer who took antibiotics for a cat bite last month and ended up in the hospital struggling for life. Kim had suffered a rare adverse reaction to a commonly prescribed antibiotic which resulted in toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a severe form of Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Since we first told you about Kim, the family has formed the Kim Oake Support Group on Facebook to provide updates on Kim’s struggle and to educate others about the debilitating condition usually caused by over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, and antibiotics.

SJS and TEN are dreadful conditions that cause painful rashes and blisters on the skin and can also affect all orifices including the mouth and eyes. It can lead to blindness or even death. Kim has lost the skin on more than 70 percent of her body. To protect her from the severe pain, she was put into a drug-induced coma.

Every day is a struggle for Kim. Doctors are keeping close watch on her temperature, monitoring her condition, hoping each day that she can be taken off the ventilator for good. Doctors say this is a critical time for Kim as the skin loss makes her more prone to infections from fungi and bacteria that can lead to septicemia, the leading cause of death with TEN. The family has been cautious, even scared to visit her for fear of contaminating her. The family is hoping her two children, Shauna and Hunter Quilty, will be able to visit her on Christmas day.

With more than 2,000 members, the Facebook site is quickly gaining attention from family, friends, and even others who have been touched by SJS and TEN.

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