‘It just really opened my eyes’: Stockton veteran survives deadly flesh-eating disease

Angelaydet Rocha, The Record
·3 min read
Kamni and Mark Del Barbawith their son Dez Del Barba at their Stockton home. Dez became ill with a flesh-eating bacteria five weeks into Army basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia in 2019. He had his left leg amputated and skin grafts over 55% of his body. Kamni Del Barba took the photos to Washington D.C. to lobby lawmakers for help for her son, Oct. 20, 2022.

It was nearly four years ago that Dez Del Barba's life changed forever.

That was 43 surgeries ago and before skin grafts covered 55% of his body.

And that was after he survived a life-threatening battle with the flesh-eating disease known as necrotizing fasciitis.

“After what happened it just really opened my eyes on how precious life is,” the 25-year-old Stockton native said.

In January 2019, he took a leave of absence from Sonoma State University to complete basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He had planned to go on to Officer Candidate School, his dream was to continue the military legacy of his mother and aunt.

Therapy dog Sammy comforts Dez Del Barba.
Therapy dog Sammy comforts Dez Del Barba.

Instead, just 35 days into basic training, he came down with what appeared to be a sore throat, that developed into an A Streptococcus bacteria and then into the flesh-eating disease known as necrotizing fasciitis.

His life was in danger but it cost Del Barba his left leg, which was amputated, severe damage to his right leg, skin grafts, and a shattered dream.

But from there, with support of family, friends and even strangers, he has rebuilt himself and his life.

“I didn't really know how strong I was until this happened to me,” Del Barba said.

His main goal right now is regaining his “mental and physical strength."

With biweekly Veteran Affairs (VA) therapy visits, gym workouts, and doctor appointments Del Barba said he is doing “pretty good.”

Dez Del Barba in a photo taken at the start of basic training.
Dez Del Barba in a photo taken at the start of basic training.

In August 2021, he was medically retired from the Army.

He lives in Lodi with his girlfriend Julia Ruiz, the two met at Sonoma State and have been together ever since.

“To see the progress, he's made it does take a village …" said Ruiz. “It's just really nice to see everyone come together to support someone. And I think that's helped him a lot through everything to get to the point (he’s at) now.”

Since his December graduation from Sonoma State, Del Barba has been working for the San Jose-based software company Bill.com and has launched Operation Dez Strong (ODS) a nonprofit organization co-founded by his family and Katie Perez the mother of Jonathin Perez, a necrotizing Fasciitis survivor.

The nonprofit offers financial and emotional support to amputee children.

Del Barba also advocates for military members who like him have experienced inadequate medical care.

Del Barba visited the Pentagon and Capitol Hill in September to meet with the Under Secretary of the Army the Hon. Gabe Camarillo, to discuss medical care.

In March, he testified at a hearing chaired by Congresswoman Jackie Speier on the medical care he received at Fort Benning.

Del Barba said he takes life “day by day” and manages to enjoy regular things, such as going to the movies with Ruiz and hanging out with friends.

“It's always going to be tough. But it just, it matters how you react to it,” he said. “You can sit there and feel sorry for yourself and ask why or you can overcome the obstacles and try and make light out of the situation even if it is just a little dim of light.”

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow. 

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton veteran remains optimistic after surviving flesh-eating disease