San Diego athlete loses limbs after emergency heart surgery

Leslie Caoili, a 41-year-old competitive strength athlete from San Diego, has undergone amputations of her arms and legs following severe medical complications. The ordeal began in May during a routine heart checkup when doctors discovered a life-threatening Type A aortic dissection, a catastrophic tear in the main artery carrying blood from the heart.

To save her life, Caoili underwent an eight-and-a-half-hour emergency operation involving cardiopulmonary bypass and extensive aortic reconstruction. While the surgery was successful in preventing immediate death, she subsequently developed severe circulation loss. Her husband, Amery Lee Caoili, reported that the tissue in her hands and feet became necrotic, eventually requiring doctors to amputate her hands at the mid-forearm and both legs.

As Caoili prepares to be discharged from the hospital to return home, her family is working to make their residence accessible. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with medical expenses, long-term rehabilitation, and necessary household modifications.