Christina Brajcic suffered as a result of the mesh for four years

A ‘courageous’ vaginal mesh campaigner has died from sepsis triggered by her own implant after a four-year battle with persistent infections.

Chrissy Brajcic’s death was confirmed by her husband Tony on her Facebook page – where she had posted an array of videos documenting her struggle in the months leading up to her death.

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The 42-year-old, from Ontario, Canada, had set up a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of the mesh – used to treat organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

The plastic implants are used to support the vagina, uterus, bowel, bladder or urethra if they have prolapsed during childbirth.




But they can shrink, twist and cut through internal tissue and have left many women in unbearable pain.

Chrissy was given the mesh after she suffered mild stress incontinence after the birth of her sons Ben and Jake.

In one of her final online posts, she vowed to ‘never stop fighting’ for her cause and added: ‘This is a life or death issue.’

Chrissy was given the mesh after she suffered mild stress incontinence after the birth of her sons Ben and Jake

Tributes flooded in for the ‘courageous’ interior designer, who helped to raise awareness of the ‘catastrophic’ mesh, which are used on thousands of women each year.

Her husband wrote: ‘It’s clear by all of your messages that Chrissy was truly a special woman and touched the lives of many people.’

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Earlier this year Professor Carl Heneghan, who specialises in evidence-based medicine, warned against the implants and said some of the devices had not been clinically tested.

He likened the impact of the mesh to the Thalidomide scandal – which was used in the late 1950s and early 1960s to combat morning sickness, but led to children being born without limbs.

‘Unlike in the Thalidomide scandal, you are unable to see the extent of the women’s injuries,’ he said.

Women affected have been left unable to walk with some reporting organ erosion, nerve damage and loss of sexual function.

Chrissy had a TVT mesh implant and was assured by surgeonsit is a gold standard, low risk , minimally invasive fix

Chrissy had her polypropylene mesh TVT (tension-free vaginal tape) implanted four years ago after she gave birth.

The type of mesh is the most commonly prescribed in the UK to treat mild incontinence.

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But the mum-of-two suffered nerve damage as a result and was in constant pain following the procedure.

After an operation to remove the device a year later, she was back in hospital being treated for urinary tract infections, eventually becoming resistant to antibiotics.

She was readmitted to hospital suffering from sepsis in October.

In one of her final posts, Mrs Brajcic wrote: ‘Funny how after going septic and almost dying now I’m getting respect and being treated well by doctors.

‘All it took was dying to get better care and better pain management. I will take it, it’s better than fighting for my care.’

Chrissy was described as young, fit and active with a successful interior design business

Kath Sansom, founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign, has created a JustGiving page to raise funds to send to Ms Brajcic’s young sons. So far, it has raised more than £1,000.

Writing on the post, Ms Sansom, 49, said: ‘Chrissy was a courageous woman who, despite her suffering, remained, calm, strong and beautiful.



‘Let her death not be in vain.’ Ms Sansom also described her as ‘determined to spread the message to stop other women suffering’.

Sling The Mesh has almost quadrupled in members in recent months. Nearly 4,600, mostly sufferers, now support the cause to ban vaginal mesh implants.

The death comes a week after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended banning mesh procedures in the UK, which are used on thousands of women each year.

It is expected that the NHS will follow the guidance from Nice, the government’s healthcare adviser – despite not being obligated to do so.

The scandal came to light in April, with senior doctors calling for a public inquiry into the controversial mesh.

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At the time, it was reported that at least 800 women were suing the NHS and device manufacturers. However, it is unsure how many women are now looking to take action in Britain.

Scottish officials asked for it to be suspended in Scotland in 2014 pending a similar review, but hundreds of women are still believed to be having the surgery.

More than 10,000 women a year are believed to be fitted with the mesh.

This fundraising page for Chrissy Brajcic’s family will run until New Year’s Day 2018. You can find it here.