Toolleen woman Lee Tobin is back home and continuing her rehabilitation after skin graft operations.
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Lee contracted necrotising fasciitis last year. The disease is caused by an infection of a flesh-eating strain of streptococcus bacteria.
The infection stripped away the skin of her lower back and left thigh and began to invade her internal organs. She also lost the lower part of her left leg to the disease.
Fundraisers for the Tobin family raised more than $50,000.
Lee is now well enough to express her gratitude to the hundreds of people that have supported her and her family.
“I wanted to thank everyone and also thank my husband,” she said.
“When the fundraiser was held I couldn’t walk or get into my wheelchair but I wanted to make sure I said thank you.”
It’s unknown how Lee contracted the disease. It could have entered her body through a wound as small as a mosquito bite and lay dormant for some time before attacking.
For 10 weeks, Lee had surgery every two days to remove dead tissue and stave off further infection. She has had dozens of skin grafts to replace the decayed flesh.
Lee will head back to hospital next week for further operations on her skin grafts.
In the meantime, she has enjoyed being at home with her family.
“I am loving being at home. I spent six-and-a-half months in hospital including 57 days in ICU. So I missed half a year,” she said.
“The operation will be a year to the day since I contracted the disease. It is to repair grafted skin that hasn’t healed. This operation is the next step before the final step of getting a prosthetic at the end of the year.”
Two years ago, she fought off ovarian cancer. Her compromised immune system likely left her vulnerable to the flesh-eating bacteria.
Money raised for the Tobin family last year help modify their home to accommodate Lee as well as going towards her prosthetics and treatment.
“I have to thank the community, family and friends that supported and donated to fundraiser,” Ms Tobin said.
“All the money has gone to much needed modifications to house, new wheelchairs.
“I can’t express my gratitude enough. I’m very lucky to have that support.”
After “The Day for Lee Tobin” fundraiser, husband Chris Tobin said the community support was a totally overwhelming experience.
“We had about 400 people over the whole thing, which was amazing,” he said.
“I was pretty humbled by the whole thing and very proud to be involved in such a great community.”
Chris and Lee married in 2014. She is a stepmum to Chris’ children Alice and Caleb.