Malyia Jeffers, 2, fell ill early in December 2010 with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, a severe and rare form of invasive Group A Streptococcus. She is being treated at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., where she has had to have one hand and both feet amputated. Friends of her family are raising money to help defray the costs of her care. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A young man with Lake County connections is enduring a parent's nightmare – watching his young daughter fight for her life against a rare and often deadly bacterial infection.

Ryan Jeffers and his wife, Leah, have been with their 2-year-old daughter, Malyia, throughout a month-long ordeal involving a near-fatal bacterial infection that resulted in amputations of her feet and one hand.

On Dec. 1, the tiny Malyia was flown by helicopter from Sacramento to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto after she contracted Group A Streptococcus, also referred to as Strep A, her father said.

“I didn't even know what it was,” Jeffers said, explaining that he wants to help raise awareness of the condition.

Strep A is the same bacterium that causes millions of cases annually of such illnesses as strep throat or impetigo, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control.

However, in some cases, a life-threatening, invasive Group A Streptococcus – or GAS – disease results in people who can't fight off the infection, the agency reported.

In Malyia's case, it was one of the most severe – and least common – forms of invasive GAS disease, called streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

The Centers for Disease Control said streptococcal toxic shock syndrome causes major organ failure and a rapid drop in blood pressure.

Such was the case with Malyia, whose organs failed. Her father said she was put on dialysis as a result, and also required blood pressure medication.

The Centers for Disease Control said that, nationwide, there are between 9,000 and 11,500 cases of invasive GAS disease reported annually, with between 1,000 and 1,800 deaths resulting.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome accounts for 6 to 7 percent of those invasive cases. The Centers for Disease Control said that between 10 and 15 percent of those with invasive GAS disease die from it, while 35 percent of those with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome succumb to it.

Jeffers said of his daughter, “She's very lucky to be even alive right now.”

The severity of the infection led to doctors having to amputate both of Malyia's feet, along with her left hand and some of the fingers on her right hand, her father said.

On Tuesday, Jeffers said his young daughter was doing a lot better – much better than expected – and is recovering.

He said she was wide awake and doctors were checking her eyes. She was shaking her head “yes” and “no” in response to questions.

“She wants me to stay there with her,” Jeffers said, noting she would put her hand on his to indicate wanting him to stay.

Jeffers said Malyia is off of blood pressure medication, but still requires dialysis.

A trial skin graft surgery using donor skin is to take place on the amputation areas Wednesday, Jeffers said. If that goes well, they plan to do skin grafts using Malyia's own skin.

Jeffers said he, his wife and two sons are holding up, and getting a lot of support from friends in Lake County, where he was raised in Kelseyville by his grandmother, who died about a year ago.

He said doctors had a plan for getting Malyia home in about three weeks, but Jeffers isn't sure about when his daughter's hospitalization would end.

“There's still a long ways to go,” he said.

Friends of the family are working to raise funds to help defray the costs of staying with the child at the hospital, as well as the enormous medical bills.

Just to fly Malyia from Sacramento to Palo Alto via helicopter cost $26,000, said Jeffers, who just received a bill for the flight.

Friends have started a donation page at www.chipin.com .

The page, set to expire on Jan. 2., showed that 82 contributors had given approximately $2,717 as of Tuesday night.

To donate, visit http://jeffersfamily.chipin.com/ryan-jeffers-and-family.

For a full fact sheet on Strep A, along with tips on how to prevent its spread – which include things as basic as thorough hand washing – visit the Center for Disease Control's Web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/groupastreptococcal_g.htm .

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