PHOENIX - Christin Lipinski is a teacher, a wife, an avid runner and mom of three.
A few months ago, a little soreness in her left side and the flu turned out to be something much worse.
“Necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating bacteria disease," said Dr. Kevin Foster, director at the Arizona Burn Center.
“I never would have thought, you have the flesh-eating bacteria, never would have thought that," said Lipinksi.
The disease is caused by something that we all have.
“Streptococcus, which is on our skin," said Dr. Foster.
The reason why it turns into a disease is still not exactly known.
“It usually happens to young healthy people with no risk factors, it’s just bad luck," said Dr. Foster.
The disease is rare and kills about 30 percent of people who get it. Once you have it, you have to act fast.
“Patients need to get to the operating room immediately and have all the dead bad tissue removed," said Dr. Foster.
Once everything is under control, skin reconstruction begins.
In Christin’s case, she was part of an experiment using a spray called ReCell.
“We take a small piece of skin from the patient and we put it in an enzyme that separates it into individual cells and then we make a spray out of it and spray it over the wound. We think this is the first case in the world where necrotizing fasciitis was reconstructed using Recell," said Dr. Foster.
“I feel so blessed that I was able to qualify for ReCell. It’s beautiful, it really is, looking at the scars healing so fast," said Lipinski.
Now, miraculously, Christin is on her way to a full recovery and will be going home in a few weeks.
“It’s been me wanting to fight to get home and get better. I have three beautiful children and a wonderful husband to be home for and I’m not going anywhere," said Lipinksi.
“I can’t wait to get her home for the kids. Me too, but I can’t wait for her to be with her babies," said Nathan Lipinksi, Christin's husband.
Christin already has adventures planned out for her family.
“The park, the zoo, things that we normally love to do, but No. 1 we have to have snuggle time," said Lipinksi.
She also has a message for her students in Peoria.
“Don’t worry, I will be seeing you, can’t keep me away," said Lipinski.