Diane Mulchinock calls March 2 the longest night of her life.
That night, her 16-year-old daughter Mercedes Moore, suffering from septic shock caused by an infection after the removal of her wisdom teeth, was airlifted to McMaster Hospital in Hamilton.
Once there, she entered a drug-induced coma to facilitate recovery and to allow doctors address the infection in her lungs. She then underwent 10 hours of surgery to remove a piece of her skull and clean the infection from her brain.
“They didn’t think she was going to make it,” Mulchinock said, recalling the harrowing ordeal.
Mercedes, now 17, was placed on intravenous antibiotics and also suffered numerous strokes as a result of blood clotting. She ended up spending 11 weeks at McMaster before undergoing intense rehabilitation for about five months at Bloorview Kids Rehab centre in Toronto.
The difficulties were eventually attributed to Lemierre’s Syndrome, which Mulchinock was told has a one in two million chance of developing after a tooth extraction.
Mercedes Moore returned this week to Grand Valley, where she lives with her father Adam Moore, but she is a long way from a complete recovery.
“We are going to be dealing with this for a long time,” said Mulchinock, who lives in Fergus.
Mercedes can now walk again, but only short distances and she relies on a leg brace and cane for assistance. She is still partially paralyzed in her right arm and leg, and will require further rehabilitation.
Moore will also be on blood thinners for some time, will require a tutor to help her regain some of the things she has lost – including math skills – and she still has follow-up neuro surgery ahead of her.
Yet through it all, Mulchinock says Mercedes has remained so positive that one official from Bloorview told her she’s “never seen someone so determined to get well.”
Added Mulchinock, “Mercedes is doing remarkably well. She’s pretty amazing – she’s my hero.”
But all the gumption and optimism in the world will not help cover the medical and other associated bills the family has had to pay.
“The costs have been astronomical,” Mulchinock said, noting assistive devices, extra pairs of shoes, new computer programs, and missed work for both her and Moore are just a small sample of the financial constraints facing the family.
With that in mind, relatives and friends are hosting a “One Step at a Time” fundraiser this Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Elora Legion. Doors open at 7pm and a show, featuring impersonations ranging from Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash to Michael Jackson to Ricky Nelson, will begin at 8pm.
The idea for the fundraiser actually came from Bruce Herron, an Elvis impersonator who works with Mulchinock’s aunt, and it grew from there. Mulchinock said Mercedes is excited about the idea and looks forward to seeing a lot of her friends at the event.
“We’re going to have a celebration of life,” said Mulchinock.
Tickets are $20 each or two for $30 and can be purchased from Rob or Diane Mulchinock at 519-843-2594 or Tracy Biffis at 519-846-0359.
