--- title: Real Life Impacts of E. coli Infection and HUS date: 2012-07-12T19:06:00-07:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/real-life-impacts-of-e-coli-infection-and-hus" section: Resource Library --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) / # Real Life Impacts of E. coli Infection and HUS ### What are the real life impacts of Shiga toxin-producing *E. coli* (STEC) infection? A few families whose lives have been permanently altered by this devastating pathogen volunteered to share their stories: - 20-year-old dance instructor Stephanie Smith ate an *E. coli* O157:H7-contaminated hamburger in 2007. She developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and was placed in a medically-induced coma after her HUS led to severe central nervous system impairment. [While she was hospitalized with HUS, Stephanie suffered brain damage and is now a paraplegic](https://billmarler.com/key_case/cargill-e-coli-outbreak). She continues physical and occupational therapy in her quest to one day dance again. Her story is chronicled in a Pulitzer Prize-winning article in the New York Times ([](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html)[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/1...](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html)). - [Seven-year-old Abby Fenstermaker contracted *E. coli* after having contact with her grandfather, who had eaten an *E. coli*-contaminated hamburger.](https://billmarler.com/key_case/john-strike-and-abby-fenstermaker-2009-valley-meats-e.-coli-outbreak) Abby’s *E. coli* infection quickly progressed to HUS, and the 1st grader died on May 17, 2007, just 10 days after first complaining of a tummy ache—the first symptom of her *E. coli* infection. - 57-year-old Linda Rivera fell ill with an *E. coli* infection and HUS in 2009. [She was hospitalized for over a year and nearly died several times after multiple of her organs failed](https://billmarler.com/key_case/linda-rivera-the-2009-nestle-toll-house-cookie-dough-e.-coli-outbreak). Linda's rehabilitation included learning to talk and walk again. Linda passed away on July 13, 2013 due to complications related to her *E. coli* infection and HUS. - Two-year-old Ashley Armstrong was one of over 200 people who became ill with *E. coli* infections after eating contaminated spinach in 2006. [Ashley developed HUS and was hospitalized for months when her kidneys failed, causing the need for daily dialysis treatments.](https://billmarler.com/key_case/dole-spinach-e-coli-outbreak) She faces a lifetime of dialysis and kidney transplants. [ Next: E. coli Recalls › ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-recalls) ### More information about E. coli [November 08, 2022 ###### 16 days hospitalized: Summer E. Coli outbreak linked to Wendy's takes a toll on Michiganders The Marler Clark, E. coli attorneys represent 48 victims of the Wendy's E. coli outbreak. A total of 109 people from six states, including New York, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/16-days-hospitalized-summer-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-wendys-takes-a-toll-on-michiganders) [September 27, 2022 ###### Chipotle E. coli Outbreak (2015) The initial, larger STEC O26 outbreak was first detected by public health officials in Washington and Oregon through local foodborne disease surveillance. In late October 2015, officials in those states ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/chipotle-e-coli-outbreak-multistate-2015) [June 04, 2022 ###### E. coli Outbreak linked to Pennsylvania Pool On June 7, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) received multiple complaints of gastrointestinal illness from patrons of a community swimming pool. Two patrons reported positive Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-pennsylvania-pool) [April 28, 2022 ###### Goat contact in Virginia linked to E. coli illnesses The Loudoun County Health Department is notifying the public of the exposure to a specific type of bacterium, called Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli (STEC), by several people who came ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/goat-contact-in-virginia-linked-to-e-coli-illnesses) [1. View all ](/news_events/outbreaks?illness=e-coli&year=all) ## All E. coli Resources [###### E. coli Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) [###### E. coli O157:H7 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) [###### Non-O157 STEC ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) [###### Sources of E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/sources-of-e-coli) [###### Transmission of and Infection with E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/transmission-of-and-infection-with-e-coli) [###### Symptoms of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/symptoms-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Complications of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/complications-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Treatment for E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/treatment-for-e-coli-infection) [###### How is E. coli Infection Diagnosed? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/how-is-e-coli-infection-diagnosed) [###### Preventing E. coli Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/preventing-e-coli-infection) [###### E. coli Outbreaks ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-outbreaks) [###### Real Life Impacts of E. coli Infection and HUS ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/real-life-impacts-of-e-coli-infection-and-hus) [###### E. coli Recalls ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-recalls) [###### References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)