Infection hits close to home..Necrotizing fasciitis

Please keep this young man and his family in your prayers.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Upper Arlington high school senior remained in critical condition on Monday after he contracted a rare infection.

Blake Haxton lost both his legs to a flesh-eating bacteria, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported.
Haxton, 18, was coaching basketball in a recreation league tournament last week when he complained about pain in his lower leg. Within a short period, doctors found what appeared to be necrotizing fasciitis, a rare infection that spreads underneath the skin, Ramos reported.

Doctors had no choice but to amputate both legs.
Haxton, described by his coaches as one of the best high school rowers in the state, is recovering at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

"He is truly a model student," said Upper Arlington principal Kip Greenhill. "He's an excellent person, an excellent citizen in the school. He's very involved in school, a top academic student. You can't say enough good things about this boy."

According to Greenhill, Haxton's friends have been flooding into the hospital to wish him well.
Dr. Susan Koletar at The Ohio State University Medical Center said experts are not completely sure why people contract necrotizing fasciitis, 10TV's Lindsey Seavert reported.
"There is probably some immune defect that makes people more susceptible," Koletar said.
There was no word about how Haxton might have contracted the infection but 10TV News was told he was making progress.

On late Monday afternoon doctors said they were cautiously optimistic after Haxton's heart started to beat on its own and he was removed from life support, Seavert reported.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.