Jo Gilchrist, stricken by an infection contracted from a makeup brush, of all things, is reportedly paralyzed and told she may never walk again as a result. The Australian mother, 27, began feeling pain in her back in February, and soon lost all feeling in her lower body and legs and had to undergo emergency surgery. Doctors found that the partial paralysis was caused by a type of staph infection that is resistant to drugs, most likely contracted from the brush she borrowed. Gilchrist’s friend reportedly had a staph infection on her face, and it spread. “It started as a dull ache and I thought it was my bad posture,” Jo said. “But it got worse and worse and got to the point I had to call one of those doctors who come to you because I couldn’t get out of bed,” she recalled. “I rate the pain worse than childbirth; I literally thought I was going to die.” According to CDC, research about 30 percent of people with staph infections carry it in their noses, with most of these cases not resulting in infection. However, those that do cause infection can be extremely serious, even fatal. Doctors originally said Gilchrist might never walk again, however, she has been making incredible strides with physical therapy and intensive treatment. Last week, she posted a Facebook video of herself standing up and taking a couple of steps. Suffice it to say, she’s not giving up and going all out. “It’s been the hardest struggle I’ve ever faced” she wrote. “I have fought with everything I have to lead to this.” Even harder than the effort her recovery takes is being apart from son Tommy, 2, while she receives treatment at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Home. “I have pictures of him and his drawings all over the walls and I look at them every day,” she said, and holds out hope that she can return to normal someday. We wish Jo and her family nothing but the best. View Slideshow: Strange But True News Hall of Fame
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Mom Paralyzed After Contracting Infection From Makeup Brush, May Never Walk Again
