Breast Cancer Survivor Paralyzed After Utah Hike, Family Seeks Transport to Wisconsin
Chris Kamke, a recent breast cancer survivor, became paralyzed and fell into a coma after experiencing severe leg pain during a hiking trip in Utah's Zion National Park with her family. After traversing the Narrows and then Bryce Canyon, Kamke developed intense pain in her legs, thighs, and hips. She was airlifted to a hospital in Panguitch, Utah, where she was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. Doctors believe that while her body fought the infection, her immune system attacked her spinal cord, with inflammation spreading to her brainstem. She was subsequently diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, a rare autoimmune disease affecting the nerves in the eye and spinal cord. Kamke is currently paralyzed, in a coma, and dependent on a ventilator, thousands of miles from her Wisconsin home.
