West Valley Nurse’s Leg Amputated After Rare Bacterial Infection on Vacation

SURPRISE, Ariz. — A Peoria nurse, Ed Rivas, is confronting life-altering challenges after a summer vacation in Florida took a dire turn. Contracting a rare bacterial infection, he faced a harrowing decision: lose his left leg or risk his life.

Rivas has dedicated over 15 years to being a trach nurse. When a cut on his foot became swollen and discolored in July, he quickly recognized the severity of the situation.

“I took my shoe off, and I see my foot is now just massive and purple,” Rivas recalled. The urgency led him and his wife, Maria, to the hospital. Within hours, he learned he had MRSA, a potent staph infection resistant to most antibiotics. Doctors gave them less than 24 hours to decide on amputation.

“He said, your infection is in the bone now and in your blood, and these antibiotics aren’t doing anything. We may need to take your foot,” Rivas stated. They opted for surgery, amputating his leg just below the knee.

Since that pivotal day in August, Rivas has leaned heavily on his family for support. “There’s so many little things that you take for granted that are tough to do now, but I have my wife and my two boys, and I lean on all of them a lot, so we’re doing okay,” he expressed.

However, the road to recovery is fraught with obstacles. Weekly medical appointments and increasing bills have compounded the stress. To assist, his family launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $20,000 to secure a prosthetic leg for him next month.

“I’m still some time away from that, but the wife keeps reminding me, you know, in God’s time, in God’s time,” Rivas noted.

Adjusting to life post-amputation has exposed him to unforeseen challenges. During the past five months in a wheelchair, he has encountered more than just physical hurdles.

“They’ll cut you off in line. They’ll do whatever to get ahead of you. They’ll take your spot. They’ll block your spot,” Rivas lamented regarding his public experiences. This has fueled a newfound mission to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

“I want to do something about this. I want to fight for their rights,” he proclaimed. His story is a reminder for society to be more considerate and patient towards individuals facing disabilities.