A woman lost both legs after a mosquito bite (7 photos)

Josie Rowley was tending to her garden last September when she was bitten by a mosquito. The 69-year-old from Bantry Bay, Cork, Ireland, noticed two red marks on her leg but thought nothing of it.





A few days later, the bite marks had turned into ugly sores.

After two unsuccessful courses of antibiotics, the pensioner was sent to the hospital, where she was given compression bandages and three sessions of hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches).



The bandages slowed her blood circulation so much that her toes turned black, and doctors were forced to amputate both legs above the knee.



Rowley is devastated by what happened and shocked that such a small insect could cause her so much harm: "At first the bites were barely noticeable. The next day they got much bigger and after a few days they started to hurt and turned into terrible ulcers, and then I had to put compression bandages on. After the first leg was amputated I was completely calm. But 10 days later I had to lose my other leg too."



"It couldn't have happened because of a couple of insect bites? It's crazy because I've been gardening for years. I've been bitten so many times and I've lived in other countries where the insects are even worse."

"After the first amputation I could still maneuver a little, but when they took off my other leg it was a whole different story," Josie shares.



The grandmother of 13 is currently living in the home of her 41-year-old daughter, Jen Rowley.

"I can't go home right now because there's a lot that needs to be done. Jen has kindly given up her living room for my hospital bed."



Jen has started a GoFundMe page to help buy a minivan.

Josie explained: "Right now, if I need to see a doctor, it takes me 15 to 20 minutes to get to the bus stop. Luckily, I have a power wheelchair and have taken the bus a couple of times. It's not too bad, but having a car that I could fit my wheelchair into would make my life a lot easier."