A Rare Case of Mucormycosis Put Odysseus’ Life at Risk as Oklahoma Children’s Rallied to Save Him

When 10-year-old Odysseus Autrey arrived at Oklahoma Children’s OU Health on August 29, 2024, he was lethargic, swollen around one eye, and recovering from strep throat and COVID-19. His mother Elecktra was worried, but nothing could have prepared them for the diagnosis that followed.

At first, doctors suspected a common bacterial infection and started antibiotics. Odysseus was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes which was treated and stabilized. When the infection did not improve, the team began to dig deeper and discovered something rare, fast-moving, and life-threatening.

“At first, we thought it was a simple periorbital cellulitis — a skin infection near the eye that usually responds well to antibiotics,” said pediatric infectious disease physician Dr. Donna Tyungu, M.D., chief of the Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. “But when Odysseus didn’t improve the way we expected, we started to worry. Cultures confirmed our fears — it was rhizopus.”

That word changed everything.

What is Mucormycosis? Understanding the Rare Infection

Rhizopus is part of a family of molds that cause mucormycosis, one of the most aggressive infections known in medicine. Mucormycosis was first described in 1885 by Dr. Arnold Paltauf, who noted how quickly it could spread and damage tissue.

For most people, mucormycosis is harmless. The immune system clears the spores easily. But in people with uncontrolled diabetes, especially those in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the body becomes a perfect environment for it to spread.

When someone is in DKA, their blood sugar is very high and their body becomes acidic because it’s burning fat for energy instead of glucose. Those conditions weaken white blood cells, reduce oxygen flow to tissue, and allow this mold to thrive. It starts in the sinuses or nasal passages and can spread quickly into the eyes, face and brain.

“This organism doesn’t respect the normal boundaries of the body,” Dr. Tyungu explained. “It can literally eat through tissue and blood vessels. Without immediate and aggressive treatment, the infection would spread to the brain and death can occur within days.”

That’s what was happening to Odysseus. The infection was advancing behind his eye and into his sinuses. Every hour mattered.

Urgent Surgery and Aggressive Treatment

When Odysseus’ infection began to advance toward his brain, surgeons had to act fast. He underwent extensive facial surgery to remove necrotic tissue, followed by repeated surgical debridement — a medical procedure where a doctor removes dead, infected, or damaged tissue from a wound. Odysseus had almost 20 procedures to ensure no trace of the fungus remained. Each time, pathologists examined samples under the microscope.

“We would pray that the biopsy came back clean,” Dr. Tyungu said. “If even one fungal cell was found, it meant another surgery.”

A Race Against Time: Securing an Investigational Drug

As doctors fought to stop the infection, they faced another challenge: the fungus wasn’t responding well to the strongest antifungal medications available. Standard drugs helped keep it at bay but were not defeating it.

The infectious disease team, including Dr. Tyungu and pharmacist Misty Oldham, Pharm.D., BCPS, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Clinical and Administrative Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, worked to obtain a special compassionate-use approval for an investigational antifungal drug not yet available for children in the United States.

“We had to secure emergency approval through the FDA and the manufacturer,” Dr. Tyungu said. “It took weeks of coordination. But once we received the medication, we started Odysseus on it alongside other antifungals, and he began to improve.”

The medication came with risks, including potential kidney damage. Odysseus needed close, daily monitoring.

The medication arrived frozen and had to be thawed before it could be administered intravenously. It was a delicate process that required careful timing and precision. Once given, his condition slowly began to stabilize.

“That was the turning point,” Elecktra said. “It was like watching the infection lose its grip.”

Six Months in the Hospital

Odysseus spent nearly six months in the intensive care unit (ICU), enduring countless lab draws, scans and therapies. The infection’s aggressiveness and the medication’s side effects made recovery unpredictable. He required surgeries, multiple IV lines, feeding support and frequent sedations for procedures.

Elecktra barely left his side, urging the doctors to do everything they could.

They remember how the OU Health nurses, and Child Life Specialists helped keep Odysseus emotionally strong.

“The nurses were incredible,” she said. “They joked with him, watched cartoons, and knew what shows were on at night. And the therapy dogs — Churro and Ryker — were his best friends. They helped him get through it all.”

Life After Infection: Recovery and Resilience

As Odysseus regained strength, he began walking again and even kept up with his schoolwork.

By Valentine’s Day, after months of surgeries, medication, and physical therapy, he was finally cleared to go home.

“It was the best Valentine’s gift of my life,” Elecktra said.

His name — chosen from Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad, became prophetic.

“Odysseus in the story goes through impossible trials and still finds his way home,” Elecktra said. “That’s exactly what my son did.”

Today, Odysseus is back in school, attending a selective magnet program for gifted students. He plays violin in orchestra, joined the art club, and spends his free time drawing comic-book stories.

He also continues follow-up care with OU Health’s behavioral health and endocrinology teams.

“He still gets anxious sometimes,” Elecktra said, “but OU Health helped us find therapy and medication that keep him balanced. Art helps too. He never goes anywhere without a sketchbook.”

Elecktra remains cautious. They both mask in crowded spaces and keep on top of vaccinations to keep Odysseus healthy, but their focus is on living life fully.

“For so long, I didn’t know if we’d ever get to do normal things again,” they said. “Now we’re making the most of every day.”

Academic Medicine in Action: Innovation and Teamwork

Odysseus’s survival was the result of relentless teamwork, innovation and compassionate care. His treatment required coordination between dozens of professionals — infectious disease specialists, ENT and plastic surgeons, endocrinologists, pathologists, critical care nurses, Child Life Experts and mental-health providers.

“This was a true team effort,” said Dr. Tyungu. “Every specialty worked together to save his life. It’s what academic medicine does best.”

OU Health provides the highest level of pediatric expertise in the state and is among a handful of hospitals nationally capable of delivering this type of advanced care, including access to investigational medications, state-of-the-art surgical techniques, and full-spectrum family support.

Oklahoma Children’s for Advanced Care

You can rely on the infectious disease care team at Oklahoma Children’s to diagnose and treat your child’s condition with the expertise that comes from using a team-based approach to care. You and your child benefit from the knowledge, skill and experience of this diverse care team consisting of doctors, physician assistants and pharmacists who specialize in treating children and who work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for your child’s specific situation.

To make an appointment with an Oklahoma Children’s expert, call (405) 271-2222.