Stephanie Kuleba’s family and friends never thought a
relatively minor procedure would lead to a dizzying and crippling chain of
events that gathered hundreds to St. Jude Catholic Church at
Almost 1,000 mourners flooded the church where Kuleba’s
coffin was laying. An online guest book was set up for anyone who wanted to bid
a final farewell to the girl.
“You are such an amazing person and everyone misses you so
much. You were so loving and caring. Always a smile on that beautiful face,”
wrote Georgia Sanchez.
“Stephanie was a leader, a cheerleader and all those
wonderful things. She belongs to that same family we all belong to — to God.
Her sufferings in this world are over. It's difficult for us to understand God,
his plan and what he has in store,” the priest said, though he did not know her
personally, the Sun-Sentinel.com quoted him.
She was just 18-year-old and had everything going for her and a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, she died 24 hours after a corrective breast surgery on Saturday because a bad reaction to anesthesia medication given to her during the surgery, the family attorney, Roberto Stanziale said.
According
to the medical examiner’s office, Kuleba died from malignant hyperthermia, a
condition that can be triggered by certain anesthesia where the body heats up
to dangerous levels, Stanziale added.
“This was something that was believed to be a routine procedure. There was
never any indication that she was not going to walk out of that surgical suite.
It's obviously devastating,” said Stanziale who added it was too early to
determine if any legal action would be taken.
Kuleba’s death during plastic surgery has sparked a national debate on whether young people should expose to these kinds of operations only for beauty’s sake.