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Chrissy Brajcic was hospitalised in October this year suffering from sepsis. Facebook

Vaginal mesh campaigner dies in Canada after being hospitalised for sepsis

Mother-of-two Chrissy Brajcic had an operation to treat her urinary incontinence four years ago.

A CAMPAIGNER WHO had worked to highlight complications suffered by women who underwent vaginal mesh operations has died.

42-year-old Chrissy Brajcic, from Ontario, Canada, had an operation four years ago to treat urinary incontinence after the birth of her second child. She underwent a procedure that involved the use of a mesh implant called a mid-urethral sling to support her bladder.

After the operation, she experienced severe pain and was left in a wheelchair. She eventually had the implant removed. Her pain continued, however, and she suffered recurrent infections.

She launched a campaign to highlight her story and raise awareness of the problems suffered by other women who have undergone this procedure. The mother-of-two also featured had in a Canadian documentary about mesh implants earlier this year.

Official W5 / YouTube

In recent years there has been international scrutiny surrounding these devices, which are made from a type of plastic called polypropylene.

They are used in surgeries to treat two conditions women can develop following natural childbirth: stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. These procedures have been carried out on women in Ireland since the late 90s and are still performed today.

However The Department of Health’s Chief Medical Officer is currently compiling a report on the use of transvaginal mesh implants in Ireland, after the stories of a number of Irish women who had these implants were highlighted.

‘A life or death issue’

Chrissy Brajcic became resistant to antibiotics and was hospitalised in October this year suffering from sepsis. She died last Wednesday. Last week her husband Tony told CTV News that her heart had stopped.

The coroner has not yet confirmed her cause of death and her family is awaiting the results of a toxicology examination.

In one of her final posts on Facebook, the 42-year-old had said:

After my near death experience a few weeks ago with sepsis from drug resistant infections from surgical mesh, I feel now more than ever I need to advocate for the mesh injured. I will never stop fighting. Please share and raise awareness…this is a life or death issue.

Tony Brajcic this week thanked all of the people who had supported his wife over the last four years.

“It’s clear by all of your messages that Chrissy was truly a special woman and touched the lives of many people,” he said in a Facebook post on the campaign page.

Read: Surgeon says vaginal mesh patients’ complications were ‘ignored’ by doctors>

Read: Minister orders report into vaginal mesh devices after Irish women experience ‘constant pain’>

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    Mute Ailís McKernan
    Favourite Ailís McKernan
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:08 PM

    a farce, thats all it is.

    62
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    Mute Keith Twamley
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:33 PM

    €19,100 a month, think Europe needs to tighten it’s own bloody belt.

    52
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    Mute jumpthecat
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:40 PM

    He’s belt is tight enough by the look of him. Cardiff has the look of somebody after 10 pints after the All Ireland looking for a chipper.

    49
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    Mute Karl Doyle
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:40 PM

    The UK pays them £50 million per day, they don’t need to tight.

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    Mute Aaron McKenna
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:09 PM

    That’s our secret plan to write off the debt sorted.

    As the old joke goes, “Well, the strategy is… We’re hoping that the people who lent us the money will forget about it.”

    Seems more plausible with Kevin auditing the books.

    50
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:48 PM

    @Aaron.
    I’ve grossly underestimated the genius of our political leaders. How long before Brussels is running like our DoF?
    If the Eurocrats uncover Kenny’s devious plan, he could always threaten them with more civil servants if he doesn’t get concessions!

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:36 PM

    My comments about this chap keep getting deleted so I’m trying a new tack.
    Best of Luck Kevin! We’ll all miss you.

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    Mute Kevin Smyth
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:35 PM

    Somehow I don’t believe you. But, since I don’t want my comment deleted either, I wish him all the best, He’s a virtuous, honest and devilishly handsome man. I have absolute trust in him. He’s GREAT!

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    Mute Eileen Gabbett
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    Mar 1st 2012, 8:36 PM

    I don’t believe you either John ….
    I hope he works out as well over there as he did here and that
    when he does, the same or similar , he will get his just desserts.
    Best of luck Kevin :)

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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:04 PM

    Quick, count the stamps.

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    Mute Pat Mc Cormack
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:51 PM

    He looks like Biffo after a few pints

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    Mute Billygoatmuff
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    Mar 1st 2012, 2:43 PM

    He’s more like Harney after a brief run.

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    Mute LoyalIrish Citizen
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:52 PM

    I hope he does the same job for them as he did for us.

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    Mute Pat Mc Cormack
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:47 PM

    This Guy is so Cool….
    I hope he has a Wonderful time in his new job,
    I really wish him all the very best x x x x

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    Mute Gerard Murphy
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:58 PM

    Good luck Kev, hope the new job works out well, did you get the new (working) calculator I sent you?
    I know it’s a big sacrifice for you going ovef there, what with the poor pay and all that, we’re all rooting for you back home!

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    Mute Innishvilla
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    Mar 1st 2012, 2:53 PM

    Taking up the auditors post is OK. Just don’t let him open it or play with Money and stuff

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    Mute Glyn Carragher
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:40 PM

    Nice Photo! But I cant make up my mind whether the slogan or the individual is the bigger joke

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:38 PM

    Hey folks,
    Thanks for all the comments on this. I just wanted to note that the only comments that were deleted contained offensive language and were removed as per our comments policy.
    Susan

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Mar 1st 2012, 3:41 PM

    Aww Susan. Ya could let us off once in a while.

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    Mute Rommel Burke
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    Mar 1st 2012, 3:12 PM

    Bunch up on the sofa, Kevin coming!

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    Mute Patricia Gilheany
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    Mar 1st 2012, 4:48 PM

    Cardiff gone to pastures new and leaving one hell of a mess behind him. Just look at what Anglo got away with under his watch,—Maple 10, loan warehousing etc etc etc.

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    Mute Frank2521
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    Mar 1st 2012, 4:48 PM

    For years we sent the cretins to Europe just look at our history Frank Rossi, Pee Flynn, Charlie Mc Creevy, Lucy Cretin and to top it off Our very own Kevin Cardiff. We thought we were just getting them off our TV sets as we were sick of them – now they happen to hold important positions by default. We were caught out. Still we won’t have to see as much of them walking our streets. Lucy takes up the whole footpath in Sandymount.

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    Mute Getard Langslanger
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    Mar 1st 2012, 3:28 PM

    He’s the spit of Benny Hill and a comedy( of errors) genius to boot

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    Mute Shane Farrell
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    Mar 1st 2012, 9:28 PM

    Lets just be glad he is gone!!!!

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