Mariana Bridi da Costa, Brazilian model whose hands, feet were amputated, dies

[DemocratSinceBirth]

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - One month ago, 20-year-old beauty queen Mariana Bridi was living the dream of many young Brazilian women, trading her striking good looks for a modeling career that promised to lift her family out of poverty.

Then she contracted a seemingly ordinary urinary tract infection. The bacteria spread quickly and inexorably through her body, proving to be extremely resistant to drugs. In a desperate bid to save her life, doctors amputated her hands and feet. But by Saturday she was dead.

"God is comforting our hearts because he wanted her to be with him now," her father Agnaldo Costa told reporters outside the hospital where his daughter died. "I can't accept that my daughter left us so soon."

Bridi's Web site says she began modeling at age 14 with the hope of giving "a dignified life to her parents."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-bk-mariana-bridi-da-costa-dies-012409,0,4106954.story

That is so unbelievably sad. May she rest in peace.

[Wetzelbill]

1. I was saddened to hear this

What a tragedy. RIP, Mariana.

My cousin had a similar illness a month or so ago, it was caught faster than her illness though. He almost had to have his hand amputated, it was some kind of bacteria as well. He's fine now, but hearing about this young woman so soon after my family member had something similar has really hit home for me. My heart aches just thinking about it.