R.I.P Brazilian Miss World

I was looking for the news on her amputated hands and feet this morning when I discover another shocking news that she passed away early this week. Her name is Mariana Bridi Da Costa and she was a Brazilian model who represented Brazil in Miss World Pageant. Two days before the news of her death came public, her boyfriend was looking for a rare blood donation to save her life after intense operation to amputate her limbs. Follow the jump to read the three news regarding the amputation, public help appeal and her death simultaneously.

R.I.P. Mariana

Brazilian Miss World hopeful loses hands and feet

Article from: Herald Sun
January 22, 2009 08:41am

A BRAZILIAN model has had her hands and feet amputated after contracting a severe urinary infection, media reports say.

Mariana Bridi da Costa, 20, was sedated in a hospital in Serra, in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo, and on artificial respiration following the procedures, according to several newspapers.

Bridi was diagnosed with a infection by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium, which can often prove fatal.

Septicemia set in in her limbs, cutting off circulation and forcing doctors to amputate.

Her boyfriend, Thiago Simoes, told the G1 news website that Bridi fell ill on December 30, but was initially misdiagnosed with kidney stones.

The infection quickly spread, causing her to go back to hospital for tests that revealed her condition. Surgeons had to act to remove her damaged hands and feet.

Her father, Agnaldo da Costa, told the Folha de S Paulo newspaper that "the concern is over her life".

Bridi twice made it into the national finals for the Miss World contest, and last year travelled to China to participate in the Miss Bikini International pageant, G1 said.

---

Mariana Bridi da Costa appeals for rare blood after amputations

Article from Daily Telegraph
January 23, 2009 08:30am

THE boyfriend of tragic Miss World finalist Mariana Bridi da Costa has spoken out as officials appeal for public help to save her life.

Tthe stunning Brazilian had her hands and feet amputated after contracting a killer urinary infection.

Officials have revealed Miss Bridi has a rare blood type and needs donations as she battles to survive intense surgery.

"This is a desperately sad story and we are calling on potential donors to come forward and give blood," said Henrique Fontes, executive director of Miss World Brazil.

He dubbed her a "great fighter" and revealed how she had bravely faced challenges in her beauty career. Read more below.

Miss Bridi first fell ill in December but doctors failed to spot the infection - instead saying she had kidney stones.

The illness worsened, causing her to go back to hospital for tests that revealed her condition.

But by then septicaemia had set in her limbs, cutting off circulation and forcing doctors to amputate her hands and feet.

And after that surgery she suffered an internal haemorrhage and had another emergency operation on Wednesday afternoon.

Her boyfriend Thiago Simoes said Miss Bridi could die, despite the drastic surgery.

"We are all absolutely distraught and are just praying now that she can pull through," he said.

He dubbed her a "great fighter" and revealed how she had bravely faced challenges in her beauty career. Read more below.

"She fell ill on December 30 and we took her to hospital where she was misdiagnosed with a kidney stone.

"They gave her some medicine and sent her home. But two days later she started getting worse.

"We took her back to hospital and they said she had a very serious infection.

"She got more and more sick, and had no blood circulation to her limbs.

"First she lost her feet, then on Tuesday she lost both her hands.

"But she is a very strong person and we just want her to survive."

Miss Bridi is on a ventilation machine in hospital in Serra, in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo.

The infection was caused by the pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Her father, Agnaldo da Costa, told a Brazilian newspaper that "the concern is over her life".

Miss Bridi was a finalist in the search for Brazil's Miss World contestant in 2006 and 2007.

In 2007 she flew to China to represent her country in the Miss Bikini international competition.

She won a prize there for the most beautiful body, and came sixth out of 50 candidates.

Mr Fontes said Miss Bridi badly needs a transfusion of the uncommon blood type O negative.

He added: "She has always been a great fighter and has a history of perseverance.

"The first time she took part in a beauty contest, in 2006, she travelled for 20 hours on a bus in very plain clothes, and without any preparation, and she ended up coming fourth.

"We need her to show that same kind of fight now.

"In China she took on girls from 50 countries, and came sixth and won the prize for best body.

"This is a desperately sad story and we are calling on potential donors to come forward and give blood."

---

Brazilian Miss World contestant Mariana Bridi da Costa dies

article from News Limited
By staff writers
January 25, 2009 12:01am

A 20-YEAR-OLD model who was a finalist to represent Brazil in the Miss World contest has died after having her hands and feet amputated because she had contracted a severe urinary infection.

Doctors had been forced to amputate her hands and feet after she developed septicaemia.

Health officials said in a statement that Mariana Bridi's condition deteriorated overnight and she died early this morning.

The Espirito Santo State Health Secretariat said in the statement she died from complications related to a generalised infection, Associated Press has reported.

It was caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is known to be resistant to several kinds of antibiotics.

Bridi had been in the hospital in the city of Serra in south-eastern Brazil since January 3.

She became ill in December and doctors originally diagnosed her with kidney stones, local media said.

Mariana Bridi da Costa had been in a hospital in Serra, in the south-eastern state of Espirito Santo, and on artificial respiration following the procedures, according to several newspapers.

Her boyfriend, Thiago Simoes, told the G1 news website that Bridi fell ill on December 30, but was initially misdiagnosed with kidney stones.

The infection quickly spread, causing her to go back to hospital for tests that revealed her condition.

Surgeons had to act to remove her damaged hands and feet.

Bridi was twice a finalist in the Brazilian stage of the Miss World pageant.