Mom With Flesh-Eating Bacteria Doing Well, Husband Says

As Cindy Martinez is recovering from amputations forced by flesh-eating bacteria, her husband reached out to say thanks and to say she is in ”great spirits” despite the setback.

The mother of two had both feet and one hand amputated last week, a month after first going to the hospital with severe pain in her shoulder.

She is battling necrotizing fasciitis and myositis, a rare and potentially deadly bacterial condition, and has endured several surgeries. Doctors haven’t been able to determine how she contracted the bacteria.

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• Woman With Flesh-Eating Bacteria Faces Possible Amputations

In a Monday news conference with reporters, David Martinez said his family appreciates the outpouring of support from the community and called it a blessing in the face of his wife’s medical condition.

“I never realized we would be the ones experiencing all of this and I truly am grateful for the individuals, communities, businesses and everyone coming together to assist us. That in itself truly is a blessing,” David Martinez said, according to FoxAtlanta.

Cindy Martinez, who had the amputations last Thursday, is still in pain, her husband told reporters, “but she’s still able to smile, she’s still able to laugh,” according to the Gwinnett Daily Post, which quoted him as saying she was in “great spirits.”

Cindy is ready to get out of the hospital, but no timetable has been set. She eventually will be transferred to a rehabilitation facility and be fitted for prosthetics, WSB-TV reported.

She has been in the Gwinnett Medical Center since she going to the emergency room on May 25 with severe pain in her left shoulder. Within days she was fighting for her life.

David Martinez, a Gwinnett County cop, also told reporters a blog “How I Lived” has been set up for updates on how Cindy is doing, as well as info on how to help.

How you can help

• GoFundMe: “Cindy Martinez Family Fund”
• Facebook: ”Support Cindy & David Martinez”

The family has received an outpouring of community support. Donations on GoFundMe have grown to over $81,000 (as of Tuesday), and several fundraisers have been planned, including:

• Your Pie restaurant in Snellville says 10 percent of all sales on Mondays in July will go to the family.
• Hebron Church in Dacula has planned a “Bring Home Cindy” fundraiser on July 18 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.), with food trucks, live music, raffle, antique car show and more.
• The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association has a “Food and Wine Pairing to Benefit Cindy Martinez” scheduled July 30 (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Bread Comapny restaurant in Peachtree Corners.

Cards, gifts and donations can be sent to Cindy and/or David Martinez , PO Box 148, Dacula Georgia 30019

Photo: “Cindy Martinez Family Fund” GoFundMe