An Alexandria man escaped death after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacteria -- and he spent almost a month in the hospital.
Seifu Hilawe spoke exclusively with News4's Jim Rosenfield about his illness -- the same rare disease involving other patients in the southeast.
He said his wife noticed that an abcess on his backside was getting worse. Within three days it had turned into a deadly case of necrotizing fasciitis -- better known as flesh-eating bacteria.
"She's my hero," Hilawe said. "She's the one for my being here. She did the right thing at the right moment."
Doctors say the illness is really quite rare, despite the recent rash of cases.
Hilawe has been unable to work his two jobs in Northeast D.C. since early May, as he recovers from extensive surgeries.
He wanted to share his story so others understand how quickly flesh-eating bacteria can take hold.
