Doctors search for cause of young woman's severe illness
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PORTLAND, Ore. - Doctors in Portland are trying to find the reason a Monmouth woman's life is in danger after she was recently admitted to the hospital with a mysterious illness.
In the last two weeks, Tabitha Schulke, 18, has lost her lower legs to amputation and was clinging to life. She first became ill on Thanksgiving, her aunt said. She is currently in critical condition.
Photos of Schulke, swollen, immobilized, discolored and breathing with a ventilator in a hospital bed, show a woman unrecognizable from the vibrant, attractive teenager seen in pictures taken before the onset of the illness.
Doctors said they think Schulke developed gangrene as a result of toxic shock caused by a staph infection, but what brought on the illness is still a mystery. The National Institute of Health said patients with toxic shock have a 50 percent chance of survival.
Lab tests will hopefully help determine what caused Schulke's illness.
Meanwhile, family members are devastated over what has happened to a young woman who was a Sunday school teacher and intent on helping others as a missionary.
"She's beautiful on the outside, but she's even more beautiful on the inside," Schulke's aunt, Katie Zimmerman, told KATU News.
Zimmerman said flu-like symptoms led to gangrene on Schulke's feet. "They looked like they were out in the snow, they were just getting black," Zimmerman said.
The gangrene spread, forcing surgeons to amputate Schulke's legs near each knee.
"When she came here, she was very close to death and she's come very far, so that makes us very hopeful for the future," Dr. Eric Chang with Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland said.
Zimmerman is confident Tabitha will recover.
"She's going to have such a testimony to what you can overcome with God," she said. "God will heal her and she's going to be there to tell everyone 'look what I went through and I still praise God.'"
Zimmerman said Schulke can still realize her goal of becoming a missionary, but for now, that's secondary to her family's goal of simply getting her out of the hospital and back home.
"Just her surviving, that's all that matters," Zimmerman said through tears. "Not Christmas, not anything, just... we want Tabi."
Besides Tabitha's serious illness, her family is also dealing with other challenges.
Her brother has an inoperable brain tumor and the family lives more than an hour away in Monmouth, making trips to the hospital time-consuming and expensive.
But they said they are getting donations and other assistance from fellow members of the Independence First Baptist Church.
There is a CaringBridge page for Tabitha and a ChipIn page where direct donations to the family can be made for her care.
I have what is called Hereditary Angioedema, this is what I looked like almost two years ago in February. I to was on a ventilator and was swollen beyond recognition. I do hope they find out what is wrong and do it quickly!
Was'nt there a fellow that rescued a ferral Cat with a mouse stuck in its throat ? He recieved a scratch pulling out the mouse and ended up with Gangreen almost died after loosing some hands ?  Treat those cuts folks !
I read that about half of the cases of toxic shock syndrome result from the use of  tampons, especially if left in too long.
Wow - dramatic before and after photos - my heart did a jump at the sight. My heart-felt prayers for this young woman and her family. What an ordeal to be going through with both this young woman and her brother.Â
wow, that poor young woman - and family also. that girl is unrecognizable. such a tough situation, i can't imagine what they are going through.
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hang in there, Tabitha...
Thoughts and prayers to this entire family. The Lord is with them as their daughter battles to survive and as their son battles the tumor. While the Lord never promised us a "walk in the park" - he did promise he would walk with us.
Damn This sucks! Myabe its a parasite causing it? maybe its caused everything else? I hope they figure it out and save this beautiful young womans life.
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So very sad. Sending positive prayers to you and your family.
I am thinking of a few words other than wishing her well.
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Jake Finkbonner and Blessed Kateri.
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I hope she comes out on a positive side such as this.
yayyy look what god did....pffffftÂ
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really so sad I wish her well.
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@Crack3r God did not make her sick nor did he cause the tumor her brother has. Prayers for you that you will turn to God.
 @Crack3r The thing is, both the text and video make it pretty clear that Tabitha's family is relying on their belief that God is good to get them through this. So your second line really doesn't go that well with your first line.
Hopefully this story catches the eye of someone who might be able to provide information about her illness. It is troubling that doctors don't seem 100% sure of what is happening here. At least, that is the way this article seemed to make it sound.
i think the 'religious' thread to these comments began because the story says the young girl and her family have those beliefs - and personally i believe God works thru others - using science, doctors, nurses, etc. to deliver his healing. just my own opinion.
@justme - not just your own opinion, but one of many others including myself. :)
@justme The Lord works through everything. Yes - he does work through the doctors, etc but he also works through all avenues.
I find  the statement "a woman unrecognizable from the vibrant, attractive teenager seen in pictures" quite creepy. Thank you, KOMO writers, for rating this girl's physical appearance for us. Because apparently it is totally relevant to the story that the writer thinks she is a hot teen rather than a frumpy older woman.Â
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Anyway, this is pretty terrifying and sad, especially at this time of year. Hopefully they can figure out what is happening and cure her, or if nothing else, fingers crossed that the disease disappears as mysteriously as it came.
 @Jolly I find it odd that you think the statement is creepy. Â
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I found the writer's comment completely relevant to the story and not in the least bit offensive. Â He was simply pointing out the toll this illness has taken on the poor woman. Â And he's right... Â it's hard to believe the photos are of the same person, especially considering the short amount of time that has passed.
Bless her heart. Such a lot to go through so young and full of life. I will keep her and her family in my prayers and say short but sweet and petition it up to Jesus when I am done here. God's will be done. May the comfort of Jesus fill the hearts of those hurting in this family. Amen
Dear Tabitha, I can only offer my thoughts and prayers to you. i don't know why these things happen but it is really disturbing. I send you my love and hope for a brighter future.
We all know what Jake Finkbonner went thru when he got a simple cut, and developed flesh-eating bacteria and was close to death. Jake has gone a long way, but miracles do happen, and it happened to Jake. Jake was recently blessed by the Pope, because he is a true miracle. Tabitha, keep fighting, you are young and healthy before this happened, you can beat it. Wishing that miracle to knock on your door, and for you to be healthy once more.
Modern medicines have gone so far. Without the medicine that we have today she would have already been dead. Hopefully the doctors will have the cure. Good luck! Positive energy to her!
This is truly sad. Staph has been causing all sorts of trouble these days. It sounds like this could have happened to anybody.
My prays are with the family and friends. This lady will live. One thing I have learned is whenever the hated for Jesus comes out, there is going to be something great. Satin will send out the wrong and mislead you just so you don't see the work of god. That is what is happening here. Jesus is at work and so many people are asking it to stop, go away, don't look. I will not stop watching, I will always believe, and unlike allot of you....... I am happy and at peace. I know my purpose in life.
 @Just my say Keep praying, but don't forget to acknowledge the doctors and nurses that are helping to keep this girl alive.
@Just my say you sound crazy.
 @Just my say  I had no idea that "satin" was so evil.  I'm more a fan of taffeta myself.Â
 @DT I just caught that, thanks. I have no idea how I even missed the spelling like that. I guess everyone is allowed to have a blond moment and this could be mine.Â
I wonder if she caught something while traveling abroad internationally , she says she was involved in Missionarys for church. Â
 @grayfox It said she plans to become a missionary, she hasn't done it yet.
O God...please heal her !!
Can we drop the religion arguments and just send as much positive energy possible to this girl? Don't make this about your beliefs. Your beliefs don't matter here. What matters is that she recovers and her family heals.Â
 @John Good If this were your child, you would likely want anyone and everyone to do whatever possible to heal your child. You may not believe in the power of prayer but when it's your family member in a life or death situation, you take whatever 'positive energy' you can get!
@John Good you know why it matters? Because too many people rely on God and prayer to get someone through something like this and wait to seek help...God, if there is one, has nothing to do with this.  Science and doctors will help her and I hope with everything in me they are able to.Â
God gave us the doctors and the science.
I pray to what ever god or spirit may be listening; and to what ever physician, surgeon, medical center, homeopath may be able to help this young lady recover. I cannot imagine the pain and stress her family must be feeling right now. My heart aches for you.
Heal her in the name of Jesus..Bless her family and friends. May they feel the healing Spirit of Jesus around them. Amen
Even if you are not religious, which I am not; pray or hope to something that this girl heals. Wow, so sad.
Jesus, heal this woman, her brother and her family's broken hearts. Forgive those that curse you as they respond to this story.
Don't include me with that tripe. Far, far more harm than good has happened in this world under the banner of religion.
 @benevolent misanthrope Evil hides behind any banner it can find. Religion is just one banner. You can't target one discipline like that, evil is evil no matter what it hides behind.
 @benevolent misanthrope they actually did a study that showed people who were told that everyone was praying for them, had worse outcomes than those that didn't.  Not sure what that was about...
 @Joy Johnson  @DT  @benevolent misanthrope Actually did so...I remember this study and found it not to surprising because prayer doesn't work, good science and determined doctors do.  Nature is tenacious even in its smallest forms like in this case.  Here is a short report from the study if you are interested. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12082681/ns/health-heart_health/t/power-prayer-flunks-unusual-test/#.UMLJZY7ssTw
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 @DT  @benevolent misanthrope Did not! When people start spouting things like this with the proverbial, elusive "they" we know it's not true.
can you site that study please? would be interested to see who sponsored it and what the sample looked like.
 @benevolent misanthrope I'm not bringing religion into this. Love for Jesus is not religion.
I respect your righs to believe whatever you want to. My love for Jesus and belief in His Word teaches me to love one another. That love means trying to spread His good news of salvation. Unfortunately, this has come across as severe judgement and rejection. We all sin and my sin as a Christian is no greater or worse than anyone else. Religion has made so many people feel rejected and hated... this is not what Jesus wanted or what I want. Rather than feeling judged and rejected, I wish that nonbelivers would understand the loving gesture of sharing God's word.Â
@countyclerk @benevolent @makeadifference I'm willing to take that chance.
 @LiveFreeOrDie  @benevolent  @makeadifference
A personal relationship?
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Sorry, that sounds so creepy.
@benevolent misanthrope @makeadifference You don't have to be religious to have a personal relationship with Christ.
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 @Ellie Gee  @benevolent It seems to me that almost everybody on the plane finds religion when they are about to leave a crater.
@benevolent misanthrope @makeadifference There's a difference between religion, an institutionalized collection of beliefs, and spirituality, just a belief. I believe makeadifference was simply using Jesus in a spiritual sense. I am a pure atheist but I will respect someone's beliefs as long as they respect my lack thereof.
 @makeadifference Thanks for clarifying. I didn't realize jesus was no longer a symbol of religion. He's freelancing now then, I take it? Either way, I don't need forgiveness from someone with such crazy followers.