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Teen Who Beat Odds Continues Fight To Recuperate

Family photo

Carli Slack, right, was supposed to be dead by now from leukemia, but instead she is gaining strength, her family says.

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 30, 2008

TAMPA - Carli Slack told her dad to leave her alone, ate a Popsicle and asked to go outside – all pretty typical for a 16-year-old.

But it was a miracle, her parents say, for a girl who doctors predicted would be dead now.

"She's got her own personal God," said Carli's father, Kevin Slack, who had been covering his daughter's face with kisses when she piped up for some personal space.

Carli has been at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital since July 19. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a highly-curable children's disease, she was in remission and on her way to going home until she contracted a fungus that eats at organs.

"They gave us zero chance," Slack said. "But every day she's a little bit stronger."

The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com published a story about Carli's plight a week ago, when the Slack family, their friends and medical professionals were awed by the teen's strength to overcome such odds and survive seven more days.

Now she's going on two weeks. Her family praises the power of prayer.

Slack said doctors called the fungus their daughter has "mucor,'' but it has not been officially diagnosed as such. Spokeswoman Lisa Patterson said Monday there are no known cases of that particular fungus inside the hospital.

Mucormycosis originates from molds found in organic matter and soils but can come from construction debris and dust. It typically enters the body through the nose and can be inhaled into the lungs or inhabit the sinuses and brain.

Mucor usually requires surgery for removal and is especially deadly to people who have severe illnesses such as leukemia, diabetes or AIDS, said Doug Holt, director of the Hillsborough County Health Department.

A variety of fungi often are labeled mucor, Holt said, but actual mucor, which invades blood vessels and causes a necrosis similar to gangrene, is particularly nasty, he said.

The teen, who planned to start her junior year at Plant High School this year, started eating and talking again over the weekend.

She asked to go outside Wednesday. Wrapped in a blanket like a newborn, it was the first time she had felt the sun on her face in three months.

"We went to the secret garden," Slack said. "It was very peaceful."

The Slacks keep a vigil online, updating relatives and readers worldwide on Carli's daily battle. Today they were waiting for a CT scan to tell them whether Carli was beating the fungus.

The odds are against that, but the Slacks say Carli and God don't seem to care about those odds.

WANT TO HELP?

The Sylvia Thomas Center is collecting donations on behalf of the Slack family. Checks can be made out to the center, with Kevin Slack's name in the memo line. Mail to: P.O. Box 488, Mango FL 33550.

For details, call (813) 651-3150.

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.

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