In every case Batdorff is aware of, the disease was misdiagnosed in the beginning. Through the Internet, she has heard of 100 cases in the past year alone. After Cowles was transferred to a second facility, doctors surgically opened him from his right wrist, up his arm and down his side to his hip. It looked like a shark bit him. As soon as they cut into his side, fluids poured out of his body, soaking the doctor's pants and socks.
Cowles recalls the hyperbaric chamber as something like a two-person submarine.
Once he and his doctor were inside, atmospheric pressure was increased to force pure oxygen into his body's cells to speed healing. In addition to that treatment, Cowles underwent major life-saving surgery six times in six days. Each time the doctors sliced his body, they removed skin at least an inch deep, then left the wounds open and wrapped them with gauze. Besides, there was less and less skin to attach anything to. Yet despite all the drastic measures, hope diminished.