A Mother’s Battle with Life-Altering Infections

A mother has undergone the amputation of all four limbs due to an extreme reaction to two prevalent winter infections.

Arisbeth Munoz, a 39-year-old mother of two, sought emergency medical attention in December 2024 after experiencing vomiting and widespread pain.

Tests revealed that she was dealing with both the flu and strep A, a common bacteria that generally leads to mild illnesses like strep throat.

While receiving treatment at the hospital, Munoz developed sepsis, where the immune system overreacts and begins attacking healthy tissue.

Due to her body’s struggle to deliver blood and oxygen to her extremities, her limbs suffered severe damage, a complication known as necrotizing fasciitis.

To stabilize her condition, doctors had to place her on a ventilator, and while she was sedated, they amputated her right leg below the knee, her left leg above the knee, her right arm, and her left hand, trying to save what they could.

Munoz recounted, “I was perfectly fine that morning, and by night, I was facing sepsis… My family had to say their final goodbyes as I was not expected to survive.”

In her GoFundMe update, she expressed, “It’s tough. My life has changed dramatically. I can’t fully care for my children. I saw my limbs deteriorate—it’s like a bad dream for me.”

After spending five months in various hospitals, she was discharged in April 2025. She can now breathe and eat independently but worries about how to care for her two autistic sons, Matthew and Enrique.

Strep A usually causes mild illnesses, but in rare instances, it can enter the bloodstream, leading to more serious complications, including sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis.

This aggressive infection can rapidly damage skin, muscle, and other soft tissues.

Data from the Cleveland Clinic indicates that since 2010, there have been between 700 and 1,200 annual cases of necrotizing fasciitis due to group A strep in the US, with a fatality rate of about one in three.

Although Munoz survived, she faces significant challenges. To aid her recovery, she started a crowdfunding page for prosthetics.

She shared, “This would help me take care of myself and be present for my sons, who count on me for their therapy and medical needs. I want to continue caring for them, and I need your support now more than ever to get these prosthetics.”

In the meantime, she’s adjusting as best as she can. As she told 10News, “I can eat by myself and brush my teeth alone. I can even push myself out of bed.”

“I’m thankful to be alive and still with my kids,” she added.