Home / Health / Canadian Mom Loses Limbs After Costa Rica Surgery Complication
Canadian Mom Loses Limbs After Costa Rica Surgery Complication
1 Feb
Summary
- Mother developed life-threatening sepsis after cosmetic surgery abroad.
- She survived with a 5% chance, experiencing organ failure and heart attack.
- Grigorov's fingers and toes were amputated due to the infection.

Nicole Grigorov, a 52-year-old Canadian mother, is learning to live without hands and feet after a near-fatal illness following cosmetic surgery in Costa Rica. What began as a "mommy makeover" in September 2025 led to a severe sepsis infection, a life-threatening response to an infection that Grigorov believes stemmed from unsterilized equipment.
She was given a mere 5 percent chance of survival, with her children preparing to say goodbye. Grigorov experienced organ failure and a heart attack, requiring life support and spending three weeks in a coma. Doctors were surprised her brain remained unaffected. Complications from the infection necessitated the amputation of her fingers and toes.
Returning to Canada in October 2025, Grigorov spent two months hospitalized. Her medical bills have reached approximately $160,000, as insurance is not covering the expenses. Despite the profound challenges and loss of independence, Grigorov remains determined to recover and focus on the future, hoping her experience will prompt others to inquire thoroughly about insurance coverage before undergoing similar procedures.




