Seven-Year-Old Oregon Girl Back from the SJS Brink

Portland, ORShe's only seven and already a survivor of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. The good news is that Mackenzie Armstrong has fought the symptoms that threatened to rob her of her sight and potentially her life.

The KHQ TV news cameras afforded viewers a heartbreaking glimpse into the young girl's life. No child should go have to experience Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a rare but potentially deadly skin disease. SJS can cause permanent scarring and disability, and affects anywhere from two to seven people per million each year in the US, according to KHQ.

It is usually triggered by an adverse reaction to medication, and there are often no warning signs.

Mackenzie's troubles began in October when a small rash appeared on her leg. In a matter of hours, the rash had migrated to her face and chest. Large blisters, similar in appearance to serious burns, soon emerged.

Her parents rushed her to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, where doctors diagnosed her with SJS. With blisters covering more than 30 percent of her body, doctors downgraded her condition to the more severe Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) and authorized an immediate transfer to the Oregon Burn Center.

Although she was afforded the best care possible, Mackenzie faced some major challenges. According to the KHQ report, the little girl developed blisters in her throat. Doctors placed her on a ventilator in a medically induced coma to keep her stable.

Blisters had also formed on Mackenzie's eyes. If left untreated, the formation of scar tissue would rob the girl of her sight.

Luckily, a revolutionary procedure arrested that threat. Tissue harvested from the placenta of donors was placed over her eyes as "a protective layer, almost like a band-aid onto the raw surfaces of the eye, so that the eye can heal without scarring together," specialist Neda Shamie told KHQ.

Her sight improved and her skin healed. Last week the little girl was allowed to go home.

For her parents, Mackenzie's battle with SJS has been a nightmare. As of November 10, Carrie and Dave Armstrong still had no idea what caused their daughter's SJS.