BURTON (WJRT) -
(08/27/12) - A Mid-Michigan family thought it was a bad case of the flu, but doctors said a Burton teenager has contracted a rare flesh eating bacteria. 18-year-old Kaylee Queen remains in ICU at a Flint hospital.
Kaylee Queen was admitted to the hospital a week ago Monday. In that time, her family said doctors removed tissue and muscle that were destroyed by the bacteria.
Kaylee's mom Dianna noticed something wasn't right when a rash started to form on Kaylee's body. "She had a band starting from her leg and up to abdomen and her side and it was a raised rash, it was like two inches, like a warped rash. It was literally spreading up her body."
That's when Dianna took Kaylee to the emergency room. She was later admitted to the hospital early last week. Days later, Kaylee still wasn't improving.
"I got a call from her hospital room that they were taking her into surgery," Dianna said.
Dianna said doctors told her two kinds of bacteria have attacked Kaylee's body - one has been diagnosed as a flesh eating disease, the other hasn't been identified yet."They may never know exactly how this happened, but going from the site of where it started, it could have been from shaving."
Dianna said doctors have the infection contained, and each day Kaylee gets stronger. The girl who loves music, fashion and photography is showing signs of improvement. After surgery she asked for her mother's chicken soup and her cell phone."She knows how close she came and how serious it is and she's looking at it as a second chance in life."
Doctors have told the Queens to expect at least a two to three month recovery for Kaylee. A donation fund has been set up in the teen's name at any Fifth Third bank branch.
ABC12 learned Tuesday night that Kaylee was moved out of the ICU and her condition is improving.
