Sanford woman settles lawsuit in flesh-eating-bacteria case

Sanford woman settles lawsuit in flesh-eating-bacteria case
Rene Stutzman Sentinel Staff Writer
6:51 PM EDT, May 18, 2009
SANFORD - The mother who entered a Longwood maternity ward, delivered a healthy baby boy and suddenly became so sick with flesh-eating bacteria that doctors wound up amputating both arms and legs has settled her lawsuit against the hospital.

Claudia Mejia Edwards of Sanford, will receive an undisclosed sum from Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc., now called Orlando Health, according to court records. So will the baby she delivered, Matthew Edwards, 4, and her older son, Jorge Mejia Valle, a fifth grader.

The amount is a secret, said her attorney, Ron Gilbert. Hospital company Jennings L. Hurt III on Monday confirmed the settlement but declined comment.

Mejia, 27, was admitted to Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital in Longwood on April 28, 2005, and that morning delivered a healthy boy, Matthew.


Over the next few hours, she developed a rash, fever, chills and other symptoms, according to her suit. The next day, she was in extreme pain, but the hospital tried to discharge her, according to the suit. Her husband, Timothy B. Edwards, refused to leave.

The day after that, doctors performed exploratory surgery and discovered gangrene in her belly.

She was transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but her condition worsened. She went into shock, lost consciousness and her kidneys began to shut down.

Doctors eventually concluded her body was being ravaged by flesh-eating bacteria, also known as Group A Streptococcal infection. They amputated all four limbs, hoping to save her life.
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Sanford woman settles lawsuit in flesh-eating-bacteria case