SAN DIEGO -- A Ramona boy suffering from a drug-resistant staph infection continues to fight for his life.

---

Images: Superbug Infection (Warning: Disturbing Images)
Images: Family Of Sick Boy Pleads For Public's Help

---

The boy's grandfather said Thursday that his grandson has made some improvement, adding that his white blood cell count is up, which is good news for the boy's immune system.

12-year-old Carlos Don is on full life support and remains in critical condition. The boy returned from Camp Cuyamaca last week with the potentially deadly infection.

The drug-resistant staph infection afflicting a Ramona sixth-grader in the news this week is a mutant strain that has, for many who get sick from it, become very difficult -- sometimes impossible -- to treat with antibiotics.

Carlos has methicillin resistant staphylo-coccus aureus (MRSA), a potentially deadly superbug. MRSA is a common bacteria that's been around for years and it's found on almost everyone's skin. Now, though, the bacteria has mutated and has become very difficult, sometimes impossible, to treat with antibiotics. Now, MRSA is being seen more and more in emergency rooms.

Carlos' legs are a major concern, however. His grandfather said that Carlos will definitely lose some toes and maybe even his feet. Earlier in the week, officials had been concerned that they would have to amputate his legs.

The family is asking for the public's help.

"Right now, we would just like everybody to keep us in their prayers, and right now we need blood, because he's going through transfusions and stuff like that," Don told NBC 7/39 earlier this week.

The family said Carlos needs plasma and platelets, so all blood types are needed. Anybody who wants to make a donation should call the San Diego Blood Bank and specify that the donation is for Carlos Don.

Previous Stories:

• January 25, 2007: Superbug That Infected Student Is Mutant Strain
• January 24, 2007: Parents Warned About Exposure To Illness
• January 25, 2007: Family Of Sick Boy Pleads For Help