E. Oregon boy dies from flesh-eating bacteria

A flesh-eating bacteria took the life of an 8-year-old Eastern Oregon boy from Pilot Rock, devastating his parents, who are sharing his story in hopes of more research and awareness — and averting similar tragedies.

Liam Flanagan died on Sunday after an eight-day battle with the rare infection, also called necrotizing fasciitis.

Now his mother, Sara Hebard, is trying to tell people about it, before it’s too late.

For Liam, the infection was triggered when he fell off his bike and cut his thigh on Jan. 13, and had to get seven stitches. Over the next few days, Liam complained about pain, until he was eventually taken by Life Flight helicopter to two Portland hospitals, where four surgeries were performed to cut out the infection.

But just over a week after the bike crash, Liam died. Now, Hebard wants to share her son’s story. The parents are hopeful they can prevent more deaths from the rare disease.

“And he was so brave — he never complained,” Hebard told NewsChannel 21 on Thursday. “And even at the point in time when he was horribly medicated and screaming in pain, he was a trouper. No child should have to go through that, ever. And if we can help save at least one life, that’s what matters.”

Research suggests the infection is more common among people who have compromised immune systems or diabetes, according to Dr. Terry Mucha at Family Choice Urgent Care in Bend.

“Yeah, unfortunately it’s a very scary form of skin infection or cellulitis. It’s when the bacteria actually gets pushed down underneath the superficial skin layer and really can start eating up the fascia and destroy the tissue,” Mucha said.

Symptoms of flesh-eating disease include blisters, fever, fatigue and redness, as well as pain worse than a person would expect, based on the wound’s appearance.

Hebard said the hospitals didn’t know how to handle Liam’s case. She said she would like to see more research done on this rare infection.

“I want change. I think hospitals need to have protocol, and they need to have research obviously to establish the protocol. But something needs to be done. They need to be prepared,” Hebard said.

Hebard has set up a GoFundMe for Liam’s medical bills: https://www.gofundme.com/liam-flanagan-medical-fundraiser