SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: A man almost lost his life after reportedly being bitten by a flea. Though Michael Kohlhof has survived, he lost both his hands hands and a part of his feet. The 35-year-old's ordeal began in June in Houston. Things only got worse when he went to San Antonio to take care of his mother, who was recovering from foot surgery.
At first, it appeared like Kohlhof had contracted Covid-19 or the flu. However, things went south when he lost feeling in his toes, and on June 19, he had to be rushed to an emergency room. He had gone into septic shock and was immediately placed on a ventilator, The New York Post reported. Besides, several other steps were taken to keep him safe but his “organs were failing,” a GoFundMe launched to help him stated.
Who is Michael Kohlhof?
Kohlhof has been described as “incredibly smart and comical” as well as “adorable, affectionate, and kind-hearted” by his mother, J’Leene Hardaway, on the GoFundMe page. She wrote, “By the end of June 20, I was told to call immediate family to come from all parts of the country to say their goodbyes.”
Kohlhof's brother, Greg, told KENS 5, “He almost died once or twice. They were worried about him being brain dead.” However, on July 1, he began to show positive signs but not without a heavy price. Doctors disclosed that he had typhus, which caused him to go into septic shock. “He was the victim of a severe and traumatic bite from one single flea. His hands and feet had dry gangrene,” Hardaway said.
To save his life, on July 10, his hands were amputated, and a few days later, his toes and the top half of his feet were also amputated. Greg said, “How he is right now, I'm just amazed.”
‘He has a really positive outlook’
Referring to Kohlhof's work, which included being a handyman, a volunteer and a part-time pet sitter, Greg stated, “Me and him talked about it. It's not your hands that do all these great things. It's your mind. You'll just have to find a new avenue to exercise it.”
Greg added, “I think he also wants people to know this kind of stuff is out there. There are fleas, there are diseases, but just be cautious, be aware, don't be afraid to live your life.” Kohlhof's partner, Alishpa Masood, said, “He has gone beyond our expectations as far as strength and bravery. He has a really positive outlook that we’re all really proud of.”
