The snow lies like a blanket over the fields in Trøgstad in Indre Østfold. Behind some tall, white-clad bushes, we find a white house. Outside there is a black and white kitty, which can’t quite make up its mind whether it wants to go in or out.
Kelly Reiser (25) opens the door and smiles modestly. The red hair is a strong contrast to the light blue eyes. She holds out a hand and apologizes that it is messy.
There is plenty of heat in the living room. At the entrance, candles are lit, and pictures of the family that once were – others, Kelly and Andre’s two sons – have been put on display. Now only Kelly lives here – with her three cats.
Known each other for a long time
Both Kelly and her late husband Andre Nurk came from Estonia. Over ten years ago, Andre moved to Trøgstad, he knew Kelly’s dad. When they met, Kelly was 15, and Andre 22.
It would take many years before the two became lovers – it happened at the beginning of 2022. The chemistry had always been there, but it was only then that it became a serious relationship. Then he had two children from before.
Andre’s children lost their mother in May 2022, while still living in Estonia. Later, Andre and his sons moved in with Kelly. She became a mother figure to the boys, and she was planning to adopt them, she says. But it didn’t turn out that way.
PARTNERS: Kelly and Andre. Photo: Private Show more
Became very ill
On Monday 23 October, Kelly and Andre were lying on the sofa watching TV. He had his legs over Kelly, and when he was about to move, he said he had a pain in his groin on one side. They thought nothing more of it, but after a few hours he could no longer stand on his right leg.
After several conversations with the emergency room and GP over the coming days, the bone finally doubled in size, says Kelly.
– His leg had swollen up extremely.
TURNED DOWN SUDDENLY: Kelly lived with her partner and two children. Now she is left alone. Photo: Ida Bergersen Show more
Picked up by ambulance
In the end, his condition got so bad that he didn’t even manage to walk to the chairs in the GP’s waiting room before he collapsed on the floor.
– I ran to find a doctor, and he took them into one of the rooms. They suspected a blood clot, and he was taken by the ambulance.
That was the last thing Kelly saw of his roommate while he was still conscious. He was sent directly to the operating room.
Kelly went home and packed some food and clothes, and arranged for a babysitter for the children. She knew that Andre’s condition was serious, but she had no idea that it was between life and death.
– Never expected that
When Kelly arrived at the hospital, she was given a separate room. A nurse came in and said that Andre’s operation would be finished in an hour’s time. She could not say anything more about the scope at the time.
After an hour and a half, the nurse returned, together with a doctor. The nurse started to cry before she could say anything.
– She said she thought it was so sad. They had to amputate Andre’s leg, and most likely he would not survive. He had contracted a flesh-eating bacteria (necrotizing fasciitis), explains Kelly.
– I never expected that. It came as a shock – I had trouble taking it in.
What is necrotizing fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious bacterial infection in the soft tissue, mainly in the skin, subcutaneous tissue or muscles, writes SNL. The condition can be life-threatening, and is often caused by an infection with Group A β-hemolytic streptococcibut can also be triggered by a mixture of other bacteria.
Symptoms are often diffuse redness of the skin, or other visible changes in the skin, intense pain and an affected general condition.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical examination and medical history, and a blood test showing a greatly elevated CRP will be a clear indication. In case of strong suspicion, surgical treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. Then all the affected tissue is removed, in addition to the patient receiving high doses of antibiotics.
Everything failed
Kelly didn’t know what to do, but she called her own mother, and then Andre’s parents, to tell them what had happened. Her mother and Andre’s father came to the hospital.
Andre had suffered a cardiac arrest, but the doctors were able to revive him. Eventually it turned out that he had contracted blood poisoning, and that the bacteria had spread to his internal organs. They were about to fail, and Andre was put into an artificial coma. The life of the 32-year-old could not be saved.
It was Ås newspaper that first mentioned the case.
Took action when daughter died
All alone
Now Kelly is left alone in the house. There are pictures in front of Andre and the boys – the family she lost.
Andre’s sons had to return to Estonia, where they now live with their grandparents. The adoption papers were ready, but Kelly now has no rights, she has been told, and will therefore not be able to adopt the boys. The family dream was shattered.
– It is difficult to understand that a young, healthy man can become so ill and lose his life because of a bacterium.
Kelly says that she needed to be alone in the first period after the death. She went home that night, and one of the first things she did was take a pregnancy test. It was as if she knew she was pregnant.
She was actually supposed to take a test a few days earlier – she had already bought it. Others had noticed that she had changed her eating habits.
And the test showed that Kelly was pregnant. She took another, which showed the same thing.
– I didn’t feel happy, so to speak. The sadness and emptiness was much stronger right then, overshadowing everything.
Thoughts about pregnancy
The 25-year-old has always wanted to be a mother.
– I have always dreamed of having four children. When Andre and the boys moved in, I told him we were going to have two more children – then the family was complete.
– Will change everyday life
Kelly has subsequently been told that you can get this flesh-eating bacteria all over the place. They are trying to find out how Andre got it, but it will probably take a long time before the autopsy report is ready.
– I used to say that it will get easier with time, but I don’t know if it will. You just get used to the feeling.
Although Kelly lost her great love, she still has a part of Andre inside her – in the form of the baby expected in July. She has had an ultrasound and everything looks good.
– It is clear that I long for the person who lives in here, and I will love the baby anyway, but it is also very sad that the father is not here, she says, and the tears flow.
Kelly doesn’t think being alone with the baby will be a very big problem. It is living on without Andre that is difficult.
– I don’t have a choice. The worst thing is that you can’t do anything about it – life just goes on. I think a lot about Andre’s boys, and the baby in my belly. I am very ready for the role of mother, and I am lucky to have family around me who stand up when needed. It’s kind of nice to think that I have something from Andre.
2024-02-18 21:40:15
#Lost #husband #flesheating #bacteria
