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

It happened suddenly for Sara Ensley of Grand Haven, Michigan. She first complained of irritated eyes and a sore throat on March 7, her 14th birthday. Two days later she had developed a rash on her body, blisters in her mouth and a fever. Her mother took her to the emergency room where doctors diagnosed her with a virus and sent her home. But her condition worsened overnight. The blisters in her mouth began popping and she started vomiting. Her mother rushed her back to the emergency room where doctors immediately identified the problem – Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

SJS is a rare but life-threatening condition that presents with a rash that blisters, causing skin to peel off in sheets. It also can affect the mucus membranes, causing blisters in the eyes and mouth. It is most often caused by a severe adverse reaction to common medication such as antibiotics and ibuprofen. Sara’s mother says she can’t recall what medication Sara may have taken that caused such a reaction.

Sara was admitted to the hospital and her mother and father kept a vigil at her bedside while doctors worked to stabilize her condition. About 50 percent of her skin peeled away, and she was put in a medically induced coma to help control pain as she recovered.

Sara beat the odds and pulled through. She is now in the pediatric unit at the hospital, out of her coma, and slowly regaining strength as her skin repairs. Her classmates have held fundraisers at school to help her family cover the mounting medical costs. To date, the school has raised more than $2,000, and more fundraisers are planned in the weeks to come.

Source:
Grand Haven Tribune

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