Texas Man Loses Both His Hands and Part of His Feet After Being Bitten by a Flea
What might have been brushed off as a minor nuisance turned into a battle for survival.
A Texas man’s life flipped fast, and it all started with something so small it probably didn’t even look like a big deal. Kohlhof, 28, was bitten by a flea, and within days his body turned that tiny problem into a nightmare.
Once he hit the hospital, things went downhill in a hurry. Septic shock sent him to the ICU, his health crashed into multiple organ failures, and his brother Greg watched him get closer to brain death. Even after Kohlhof fought his way back enough to open his eyes, the damage was permanent, with doctors forced to amputate his hands and part of his feet after dry gangrene set in.
And the wild part is what happened before the bite ever became obvious.
Kohlhof's Life Has Been Altered Forever
OX26 / Gofundme/JLeene HardawayNo One Deserves to Go Through Such Physical and Emotional Pain
While Greg was telling reporters they feared Kohlhof could end up brain dead, the timeline of how fast this escalated was already becoming the scariest part of the story.
Soon after reaching the hospital, Kohlhof suffered from septic shock and was rushed to the ICU. By the next day, his health had deteriorated rapidly, leading to multiple organ failures.
Over the next 24 hours, doctors worked tirelessly to stabilize him. They placed him on a ventilator, initiated dialysis, and administered several IV drugs, including antibiotics.
Kohlhof's brother, Greg, told reporters that his brother was on the brink of death. In his words, "They feared he might end up brain dead."
Against all odds, after almost two weeks, Kohlhof started showing signs of improvement. He was taken off the ventilator and sedative drugs, and he opened his eyes for the first time since the incident.
Kohlhof, Fighting for His Life
GoFundMe
Then the family learned the gangrene was tied to one of the medications that saved him, and Kohlhof’s mom J’Leene Hardaway had to watch the situation turn irreversible.
The doctors linked the sepsis to typhus, and Greg explained Kohlhof didn’t show symptoms until it was too late, even though a swollen bite or rash usually gives people a warning.
Kohlhof’s mom, J’Leene Hardaway, explained that her son had been left with severe injuries. On a GoFundMe page, she revealed that her son had developed "dry gangrene" as a result of one of the medications that saved his life.
Unfortunately, the gangrene was beyond the doctors' control, so they had no other option but to amputate his hands and part of his feet.
The doctors linked Kohlhof’s life-threatening sepsis to typhus, which they believe was transmitted when the flea bit him.”
Road to Recovery
Fox 26 News
Through all of it, Kohlhof’s partner Alishpa Masood kept showing up with that stubborn hope, even as his recovery became a new kind of normal.
Medics informed Kohlhof's family that the type of typhus he had is incredibly rare in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that: “Untreated typhus can cause severe illness and damage to one or more organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.”
In normal circumstances, infected individuals seek immediate treatment after noticing that the bite is swollen or developing a rash. But in this case, Greg revealed that his brother didn't show any symptoms until it was too late.
Kohlhof’s partner, Alishpa Masood, has maintained a positive spirit since the devastating incident. In her words, “He has gone beyond our expectations as far as strength and bravery. He has a really positive outlook that we’re all really proud of.” If you've been touched by this story, you can lend a helping hand by donating to support Kohlhof’s medical expenses.
The flea bite didn’t just change Kohlhof’s body, it changed everyone’s future around him.
If you think Kohlhof’s ordeal was extreme, read how Tim Andrews got a pig kidney transplant.
