The Honea Path woman who lost both arms in a dog attack suffered a setback this week when doctors found an infection in her shoulder, leaving them doubtful she will be able to use a prosthesis.
Kyleen Waltman, 39, has been in the hospital for over a month.
Her sister, Amy Wynne, said on her gofundme page Wednesday that Waltman’s doctors had removed more of her shoulder bone after finding an infection.
“The doctors told Kyleen again about her arms and most of the damage the dogs had done,” Wynne said. “She is now fully aware of the situation. She still has a long way to go. She survived this for a reason.”
Justin Minor, who lives on the road where the attack took place, was arrested and charged with possession of a dangerous animal that attacked and injured a human, violating rabies control, and dangerous animal not allowed outside the premises unless stopped. They are all crimes.
He was released on $15,000 bail.
Possession of a dangerous animal is subject to a $5,000 fine or three years in prison.
Minor is due to appear before the magistrate in Abbeville on Thursday for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is likely cause for the charges.
Wynne said her mother will attend the court hearing.
“I ask you all to pray for my mother when she sees him for the first time since the accident that everything is going according to plan,” Wynne wrote.
Waltman was attacked by two pit bulls and a mixed breed while walking down a Honea Path road. She had surgery on her leg on Tuesday.
“Her left leg is not only giving her, but also the doctors a seizure. The infection in it is the same infection she’s had throughout her body, but for some reason the infection in her leg can’t stop spreading.”
She has had about a dozen surgeries and has been in and out of consciousness. Earlier this week, Wynne reported that her sister was in a good mood and eager to go home.
She had bites all over her body and was lying on the ground and was attacked when a neighbor chased the dogs away by firing a gun.
