DRUG-RESISTANT MRSA SURVIVOR DESCRIBES ADVOCACY JOURNEY

In 2004, Vanessa Carter was involved in a car accident that caused devastating injuries to her internal organs, as well as multiple facial fractures. After a facial implant prosthetic, Vanessa developed an infection which resulted in a decade of surgeries to manage. In and out of hospital, Vanessa was kept on multiple courses of antibiotics. After a year, the infection was worse. In a final emergency surgery, the plastic surgeon removed the prosthetic and sent it for testing. Confused and concerned, Vanessa called for the results and for the first time, was introduced to the term MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).