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

Here’s an update to a story we brought you Monday about the sister of a newspaper managing editor who was diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Mark Cripps says in an update column in Ancaster News that his sister Lisa is gradually recovering.

Lisa had become ill with SJS after taking antibiotics prescribed to her following minor surgery. SJS is a rare but life threatening condition that begins with a rash that blisters over, causing the skin to peel off in sheets. The eyes and mucus membranes also can be affected, causing ocular complications and vision loss. More than 200 medications have been linked to SJS, most often antibiotics, ibuprofen and anti-seizure medication.

Like others with SJS, Lisa was moved to a burn unit. There, her blisters multiplied and covered her face, torso, legs and arms. They gradually scabbed over. Her eyes also were affected, but a specialist deemed damage to her vision was minimal. The blisters in her mouth, tongue and throat made eating and drinking excruciatingly painful, but she worked hard to drink supplemental beverages so that she could nourish her body. The alternative was a feeding tube.

Her first few days in the hospital were most crucial, as there was the possibility her condition could worsen to a condition known as toxic epidermal necrolysis, or TEN.

“It took everything in my power to hold back the tears during the 30-minute visit. While I was torn up inside, I didn’t want to show my sorrow for fear it would make her feel worse than she already did. I wanted to be strong for her,” Mark writes.

Lisa continues to improve, and Mark says he is hopeful he will be sitting around a campfire soon, “enjoying a beverage and counting our blessings,” he says.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 24th, 2009 at 1:20 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.