E. Coli Victims Could Face Years Of Trouble

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- No new cases of E. coli were reported on Thursday, possibly marking a plateau in the number of sick people.  The number has remained steady at 206 for the past three days.  But, those who are sick might have a long recovery.

The severity of the illness created by E.coli has a broad range.  For some people, living with the illness turns out to be a lifetime of concern.

No one knows the lingering effects of E. coli infection better than Richard Chatfield.  Six years after his diagnosis, his kidneys are dying.

"I had high blood pressure because of it and I was anemic because of it.  And, there was no chance of them recovering and now I'm on dialysis and they're sure it's because of the E. coli that I had," said Richard Chatfield.

In the current outbreak, a total of 206 people were diagnosed with E. coli infection connected to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove.  Of those, 27 people remain hospitalized, including 12-year-old Lexy Morton.

Her mother isn't sure of how long she'll feel the effects of the illness.

"I don't know.  I really don't want to think about that. I really think she's going to come out okay," said Lexy's mother, Becky Morton.

Dr. Richard Medlock specializes in treating kidney disease.

"This toxin damages those vessel walls and makes them form clots," said Dr. Richard Medlock.

He says if the kidneys fail early in the illness, it could spell years of trouble.

"The more likelihood that the kidneys will not recover and be able to operate on their own, so people can get by without a dialysis treatment," said Dr. Richard Medlock.

Even though, Chatfield was told his infection was fortunately caught early, the fact is that without a transplant, he will die.

"And now I am in the process of going that direction.  Until I get a new kidney and dialysis is helping me out," said Richard Chatfield.

It's early in the current outbreak, too early for the patients to know what the future will hold.

Chatfield offers hope, but caution to carefully watch for problems, even years later.  His case came after a trip to summer camp and he never learned what it was that gave him the illness.