How You Can Help Gwinnett Mom Battling Flesh-Eating Bacteria

Cindy Martinez, the Gwinnett County mother who has been battling flesh-eating bacteria since late May, had surgery Thursday to amputate both feet and one of her hands, her husband said.

A statement from Martinez’s husband, David Martinez, a Gwinnett County police officer, was posted Thursday afternoon on the “Cindy Martinez Family Fund” GoFundMe page:

“Cindy is currently in surgery. Her feet, right hand, and some fingers on her left hand are going to be removed. Please pray for Cindy and ask God to continue blessing her with His strength. Thank you, David Martinez.”

Later, he reported the surgery went well. This was posted on Facebook:

Surgery went well. The fingers on the left hand weren’t removed, but may take it’s course on their own. I haven’t seen Cindy yet, but will pray with her when I see her. Thanks, David.

Cindy is tired, but laughed when she noticed herself falling asleep as I spoke with her.

Cindy says “thanks for all the support and I’m ready for the next challenge through all this.”

Martinez has been in the Gwinnett Medical Center since she went to the emergency room on May 25 with severe pain in her left shoulder.

She has been diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and myositis, a rare and potentially deadly disease, and has already endured several surgeries. Doctors haven’t been able to determine how she contracted the bacteria.

How you can help

• GoFundMe: “Cindy Martinez Family Fund”
• Facebook: ”Support Cindy & David Martinez”

The family has received an outpouring of community support. Donations on GoFundMe have grown to over $70,000, and several fundraisers have been planned, including:

• Your Pie restaurant in Snellville says 10 percent of all sales on Mondays in July will go to the family.
• Hebron Church in Dacula has planned a “Bring Home Cindy” fundraiser on July 18 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.), with food trucks, live music, raffle, antique car show and more.
• The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association has a “Food and Wine Pairing to Benefit Cindy Martinez” scheduled July 30 (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Bread Comapny restaurant in Peachtree Corners.

Cards, gifts and donations can be sent to Cindy and/or David Martinez , PO Box 148, Dacula Georgia 30019

Photo: “Cindy Martinez Family Fund” GoFundMe