Infection nearly kills Kennewick man; friends, family help

KENNEWICK — Paul Kelly lost his left forearm and part of his leg to an invasive strep infection last month, and friends, family and co-workers are coming together to help the Kennewick man and his family.

The Tri-City native and Bechtel engineer was airlifted March 16 from Richland's Kadlec Medical Center to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, suffering from what turned out to be necrotizing fasciitis — also known as flesh-eating bacteria.

"He was very, very near death." said Jennifer Franco, Kelly's sister-in-law.

Doctors amputated his left forearm March 21 and have removed much of the muscle in one of his calves, Franco said.

Kelly's prognosis is good, Franco said. He was taken off his respirator March 28, moved out of the intensive-care unit Monday, and was awake and alert Wednesday. But Franco said Kelly still undergoes frequent minor surgeries to stop any more bacteria from spreading.

It's unclear how Kelly got the infection, Franco said.

Kelly and his wife, Marie, a fitness instructor, will have to stay in Seattle for several more weeks, if not longer, Marie's sister said.

In the meantime, friends, family, co-workers and community members are trying to raise money for the family and care for their three children, 5-year-old Daniel, 11-year-old Brian and 15-year-old Catherine.

More than 600 Bechtel employees turned out for a spaghetti feed in his honor last week.