Necrotizing Fasciitis or NF
Commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria it affects 650-800 victims in the U.S. each year. This infection attacks the deep layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues and travels across the facial planes at a rate of up to 1" per hour. NF is a severe disease of sudden onset and is usually treated with surgical debridement and large doses of antibiotics. Delayed surgical treatment contributes to a higher rate of mortality. Many types of bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis. In fact, exposure to such bacteria is common. However infections are more likely to occur in people with compromised immune systems.
I Still Love Baseball
I placed this cache about a month ago on my way to perform maintenance on my nearby "Sticker Shock" multi. This walk out into the ponds was my first extended walk since contracting Necrotizing Fasciitis in my right foot and leg while kayaking at Game 4 of the World Series in McCovey Cove on October 25th, 2014. The infection would ultimately force me to the hospital and a Flesh Eating Bacteria diagnosis would soon follow. I would spend 3 weeks in the hospital, 4 weeks in a nursing home, and 2 months in bed at home before being given the green light to walk again on February 13th, 2015. But I'm such a lucky geocacher. Thanks to the brilliant work of my Kaiser medical team I'm not only alive today, but still have my foot and leg. Many are not as fortunate.
There's no need to touch any pond water while retrieving this cache. My advice for prevention of NF would be not to enter bodies of water with any open wounds. If you do, wash with anti-bacterial soap. See your doctor early if you think you have an infection. If it's NF, your life and limbs will only be saved with early treatment.
To find the cache:
Stage 1: A = The number on the small sign found above the "Invisible Dangers!" sign.
Cache is at:
N37 25.541
W122 00.98A