A 20-year-old model who was a finalist to represent Brazil in the Miss World contest has had her hands and feet amputated after contracting a severe urinary infection, media reported Wednesday.
Mariana Bridi da Costa was sedated in a hospital in Serra, in Brazil's state of Espirito Santo, and on artificial respiration following the procedures, according to several dailies.
Bridi was diagnosed with a infection by the Pseudomonas aeroginosa bacterium, which can often prove fatal. Septicemia set in in her limbs, cutting off circulation and forcing doctors to amputate.
Her boyfriend, Thiago Simoes, told the G1 news website that Bridi fell ill on December 30, but was initially misdiagnosed with kidney stones.
The infection quickly spread, causing her to go back to hospital for tests that revealed her condition. Surgeons had to act to remove her damaged hands and feet.
Her father, Agnaldo da Costa, told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that "the concern is over her life."
Bridi twice made it into the national finals for the Miss World contest, and last year traveled to China to participate in the Miss Bikini International paegant, G1 said.
Some one so young. So beautiful. So vivacious and full of life. Full of ambition and drive.
Struck down by something so tragically unimaginable. Even she herelf would have thought that a car accident was a billion times more likely.
What is life to her now?
Q .... count our blessings and give thanks to everyday when we wake up a live and go to bed in peace.
Anything can happen. Anything. Even to the most beautiful.
