Living on hope: Mother prepares for double arm transplant

Press & Guide | Andrea Blum

Dearborn native Katy Hayes beams while holding her third child, daughter Arielle, in February 2010. Just days later, she would be fighting a deadly flesh-eating bacteria that resulted in doctors amputating her arms and legs. Photos courtesy of Hayes family


Katy Hayes has experienced several life-changing moments in her 44 years, and yet another lies ahead.

The Dearborn native and mother of three, now living in Texas, contracted two types of Group A Streptococcal disease -- fast-spreading infections that eat flesh and destroy internal organs -- after giving birth to her third child in February 2010.

She entered the hospital with abdominal pains, suffered massive organ failure and fell into a coma within hours.

With his wife facing a very slim chance of survival, Al Hayes begrudgingly gave his consent for doctors to amputate her arms and legs.
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