A Harrowing Tale Of Survival: Texas Man Loses Arms And Part Of Feet After ONE Flea Bite

Michael Kohlhof was admitted to a San Antonio emergency room last month after experiencing numbness in his toes and flu-like symptoms. He was soon after rushed into the intensive care unit (ICU) in septic shock. Within 24 hours, Kohlhof's organs began to fail rapidly, and he required a ventilator, dialysis, antibiotics, vasopressors, and various IV medications to keep him alive.

Kohlhof's mother, J'Leene Hardaway, wrote on a GoFundMe page that by the end of June 20, she was advised to call immediate family members to say their goodbyes. His brother, Greg, revealed that Kohlhof "almost died once or twice" and that there were concerns about him being brain dead. However, after 11 days of intensive medical assistance, Kohlhof miraculously pulled through and was taken off the ventilator and sedation on July 1. Unfortunately, this recovery came at a significant cost to his physical well-being.

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As a result of the vasopressor treatment, Kohlhof developed dry gangrene in his hands and feet, leading to the need for amputation. Hardaway explained that the vasopressor treatment was one of the medications that saved his life but had severe consequences. The cause of Kohlhof's sepsis and rapid decline was determined to be typhus, which originated from a single flea bite. Hardaway emphasized that her son was the victim of a severe and traumatic bite from just one flea.

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July 23, 2023

Doctors informed the family that the type of typhus Kohlhof contracted is extremely rare in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flea-borne typhus is typically found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide, including certain areas of the US such as southern California, Hawaii, and Texas. The CDC warns that untreated typhus can lead to severe illness and damage to multiple organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.

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In most cases, individuals seek medical help after noticing swelling or a rash around the site of the flea bite. However, Kohlhof did not experience any symptoms until it was too late. His gangrene had progressed beyond treatment, and doctors were left with no choice but to amputate both his hands up to his forearms and half of his feet earlier this week. Kohlhof's partner, Alishpa Masood, revealed that if he had waited another 48 hours, he would not have survived.

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Kohlhof, originally from Houston, had been in San Antonio to assist his mother during her recovery from foot surgery. He is described as a volunteer, handyman, art lover, and part-time pet sitter, with a deep passion for activities that require the use of his hands. However, his brother Greg reminded him that it is not just his hands that define him but his mind. Greg encouraged him to find new avenues to exercise his talents and passions.