In August of 2006, Alicia, contracted a near fatal case of the virulent flesh-eating bacteria following routine surgery at a top rated San Fernando Valley, California hospital.

After discovering a tiny black dot on her daughter’s stomach Mrs. Cole’s insistence on alerting the doctor was said to have saved Alicia’s life.

During the two month hospital stay the Cole family learned firsthand the importance of the awareness of hospital-acquired infections and the necessity for medical staff adherence to vital infection prevention safety standards. Alicia had joined over two million Americans who according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection during their stay. Sadly, of those, an estimated 103,000 patients died.

Alicia vowed that if her life was spared from this ravaging disease she would dedicate herself to insuring that no other family would have to endure the trauma and burdens inflicted by a preventable hospital infection. While still healing from her six surgeries Alicia began using her experience to educate others via emails, letters and websites. As her health improves she continues to increase her efforts by sharing and counseling with other Survivors of Necrotizing Fasciitis and promoting public awareness of the epidemic of hospital acquired staph infections such as MRSA, VRE, Sepsis and C-diff.

“This website was created as an information and educational resource to provide assistance to victims, survivors, family members, caregivers, and concerned supporters looking for help and answers. It is dedicated the brave Fellowship of Survivors and to the memory those passed on after a valiant fight."