GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) -
An Upstate mother who has battled a flesh-eating bacteria for nearly a month was reunited with her twins this week.
Lana Kuykendall was admitted to Greenville Memorial Hospital days after giving birth to twins on May 7, and on Wednesday she saw her now 1-month-old babies for the first time since she became ill.
Kuykendall has been upgraded to fair condition and her husband Darren said she improved tremendously in the past week.
"Although she is still in ICU, we believe she is on the road to recovery," said Darren Kuykendall. "She looks more and more like herself."
Once Lana Kuykendall was told she could see the twins, her husband said she couldn't stop looking at the clock to see if was time yet.
"Lana grinned from ear to ear when she was holding them," said Darren Kuykendall.
SLIDESHOW: Mom reunited with twins in hospital
Lana Kuykendall has had longer periods of alertness and is trying to respond to people in the room as she improves. Her family said she is able to communicate by blinking, raising her eyebrows, pointing and mouthing words.
The twins, Ian and Abigail, are being cared for by family and friends as Lana Kuykendall continues to recover.
"Recovery will be a slow process, but she's doing well at this time," said Dr. Bill Kelly, hospital epidemiologist for Greenville Hospital System. "We believe she has turned the corner."
Thus far, she has had almost 20 surgical procedures to contain and treat the spread of necrotizing fasciitis. She is tentatively scheduled for skin-grafting surgery.
A fund for her has been set up at the Greenville Hospital SystemCredit Union under her husband's name, Darren Kuykendall.
This is to help the family with expenses now and as Lana Kuykendall recovers. Send donations to 211 Patewood Dr., Greenville, SC, 29615.
Another fundraiser is a "Loops for Lana" campaign, in which an emergency medical technician and friends are making and selling braided bracelets for $10 each.
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Lana Kuykendall with her newborn twins on Wednesday. (Courtesy Greenville Memorial Hospital)
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