Boy who contracted flesh-eating bacteria getting a new face
SEATTLE -- A local boy nearly killed by a flesh-eating bacteria is preparing for a new beginning.
His bravery helped him survive and, after months of therapy and surgeries, Jake Finkbonner is getting a brand new face in one of his final operations.
Jake and his family have been through so much that on Monday night they were so excited they weren't sure if they'd get much sleep.
Jake is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday.
"Anybody who's ever had physical therapy knows it's pretty painful," said Jake's dad, Donny Finkbonner.
The growing pains Jake went through brought tears to his eyes. In preparation for his final major reconstructive surgery, doctors put silicone implants into his cheeks and chest to stretch out the skin.
That skin will be used to give the 7-year-old boy a new face.
"We have been anticipating this day for a long time," said his mom, Elsa.
In February, 2006, Jake bumped his mouth playing basketball. Within days he was near death and being airlifted to Children's Hospital in Seattle.
Bacteria was eating away at Jake's flesh, killing the tissue around his mouth and eyes.
It was Strep A, a vicious bacteria that got into Jake's bloodstream through that tiny cut. Jake was battling necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as flesh-eating disease. It began to devour his flesh.
To save his life, surgeons had to cut out the infected tissue.
Jake made an amazing recovery, but is hasn't been easy.
He's been to the doctor more times than most adults, and has undergone dozens of surgical procedures.
He may be only 7 years old, but Jake knows exactly what's going on.
"Every week I come down to Children's and he puts a little water in my balloons and they start to grow," Jake said of the silicone implants that are stretching his skin. "A few days later they start to grow and I just get used to having them."
On Tuesday doctors will use that extra skin from his cheeks to cover up scar tissue.
Then they'll take a small shaving of bone from Jake's ribs and put it under his eyelid so it won't droop.
Finally, surgeons will recreate Jake's lips so the boy can finally give his mom a real kiss.
"All of these muscles all around his lips," Elisa says pointing to Jake's face.
Jake and is family are looking forward to what the surgery will bring.
"We're anxious, but at the same time we're excited," said Donny. "Because we know it's a new chapter for Jake. A new life for him and we're excited for him. We love him a lot."
His bravery helped him survive and, after months of therapy and surgeries, Jake Finkbonner is getting a brand new face in one of his final operations.
Jake and his family have been through so much that on Monday night they were so excited they weren't sure if they'd get much sleep.
Jake is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday.
"Anybody who's ever had physical therapy knows it's pretty painful," said Jake's dad, Donny Finkbonner.
The growing pains Jake went through brought tears to his eyes. In preparation for his final major reconstructive surgery, doctors put silicone implants into his cheeks and chest to stretch out the skin.
That skin will be used to give the 7-year-old boy a new face.
"We have been anticipating this day for a long time," said his mom, Elsa.
In February, 2006, Jake bumped his mouth playing basketball. Within days he was near death and being airlifted to Children's Hospital in Seattle.
Bacteria was eating away at Jake's flesh, killing the tissue around his mouth and eyes.
It was Strep A, a vicious bacteria that got into Jake's bloodstream through that tiny cut. Jake was battling necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as flesh-eating disease. It began to devour his flesh.
To save his life, surgeons had to cut out the infected tissue.
Jake made an amazing recovery, but is hasn't been easy.
He's been to the doctor more times than most adults, and has undergone dozens of surgical procedures.
He may be only 7 years old, but Jake knows exactly what's going on.
"Every week I come down to Children's and he puts a little water in my balloons and they start to grow," Jake said of the silicone implants that are stretching his skin. "A few days later they start to grow and I just get used to having them."
On Tuesday doctors will use that extra skin from his cheeks to cover up scar tissue.
Then they'll take a small shaving of bone from Jake's ribs and put it under his eyelid so it won't droop.
Finally, surgeons will recreate Jake's lips so the boy can finally give his mom a real kiss.
"All of these muscles all around his lips," Elisa says pointing to Jake's face.
Jake and is family are looking forward to what the surgery will bring.
"We're anxious, but at the same time we're excited," said Donny. "Because we know it's a new chapter for Jake. A new life for him and we're excited for him. We love him a lot."
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