C diff is back

EDITOR: My name is Cierra Baumunk. You may remember my story was featured in the Mountain. Democrat on April 18. I had undergone a procedure called fecal microbiota transplant to rid of the nasty Clostridium difficile bacteria, known as c diff. I love the picture on the cover because I felt like a success story.

Unfortunately, a couple of weeks ago I tested positive for c diff again. As you can imagine, I am devastated, shocked, and angry. After the procedure I was told that it could be dangerous to go onto any type of antibiotic for infections. I had been battling an infection with natural remedies, doing my best to subside it, until a few weeks ago when it had gotten to the point where I knew I would have to take an antibiotic, or I was going to end up in the hospital.

I went on them with caution under my doctors care and understanding this may or may not be a result. People who have been lucky enough to escape the disease with their life, how are they supposed to take an antibiotic without getting sick again?

I’d also like to know when Marshall Hospital and other hospitals plan to take responsibility for damage they are doing to the lives in our communities? How can they continue to make so many people sick and not be held accountable? At what point to do you hold a hospital responsible for an outbreak? People are dying, families are hurt and have no answers, or people are left like me, very frustrated.

This bacteriea is preventable with cleanliness.

I just want something to change so other people don’t have to walk my shoes. Am I really supposed to spend the rest of my life like this? This year I had finally started to move on and was getting my life back. I felt great. I’m working out, I love being active. I was able to volunteer at my son’s school. We’re planning several camping trips this year, and I even considered getting a part-time job this fall since both of my children will be in school, after being a stay-at-home-Mom for seven years. I also was considering to start finishing my degree.

Now I am realizing I have to put that on hold. This may not be the year, again. I am strong-willed and a fighter, I will never give up on my dreams, but I also don’t like for an illness to tell me what I can and can’t do.

CIERRA BAUMUNK

Placerville