Charlotte Gilmour, a 23-year-old woman from Palmerston North, New Zealand, found herself in a terrifying ordeal after experiencing a severe reaction to medication. She had been dealing with a persistent chest infection when she woke up one day to find a rash spreading across her body. The realization struck her immediately – this was something serious.
With tears streaming down her face, she faced the mirror, knowing deep down that this wasn’t just a simple rash. Soon after, she received the diagnosis: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, an incredibly rare disorder affecting fewer than one in a million people worldwide. The suspected culprit? Lamotrigine, a medication she had been taking for depression. Whether the chest infection played a role or was merely coincidental remained unclear.
As she was rushed to the hospital, hope mingled with fear. Some Filipino nurses recognized her symptoms from cases back home, but even they acknowledged the lack of information available about the condition. For Charlotte, it was a terrifying reality to confront.
The blistering extended beyond her skin to her mouth and esophagus, necessitating a feeding tube for nutrition. Steroids, the first line of defense, proved ineffective initially. Medical staff, facing the unfamiliarity of her condition, debated the next steps. But Charlotte, fighting for her life and her sight as her vision began to fade, pleaded to continue the treatment.
Thankfully, perseverance paid off. After a grueling 30 days in the hospital, Charlotte emerged on the other side of her ordeal. With the right medication finally making a difference, she was discharged, her journey to recovery underway.
