Mother of two and former Marine, Cindy Martinez is currently fighting to survive against a flesh-eating disease in a Georgia hospital. Martinez, 34, was just taken off a ventilator, but her husband David Martinez says she’s “not out of the clear yet.”

WSBTV reports that Martinez was complaining of severe shoulder pain on May 25 before she was rushed to Gwinett Medical Center-Lawrenceville, in Gwinett County, Georgia. Currently, the family is preparing for the worst as doctors struggle to find what caused the bacteria to enter her body. “When we first got here, it was minute by minute, hour by hour, and now, it seems to be day by day. Definitely progress,” David Martinez told WSBTV. He also said they are preparing for the worst, while still praying for the best.

The spreading bacteria has already caused doctors to remove dead muscle and tissue from Martinez’ legs and arms, but they remain baffled as to what caused its onset. “Right now, no decision has been made as to what is going to occur with her hands and feet. But there is a high possibility that she is facing several amputations,” her husband said.

Martinez also told WSBTV that the most devastating part is telling his children that their mother still cannot come home. “They miss mom. Every day they’re starting to ask me more and more when is she coming home, and I tell them, ‘She's not coming home for a while’,” he said.

The two met when they were both in the Marines early in their 20s. Martinez said nothing seemed amiss other than his wife’s shoulder pain. After inspecting the area, he said he found little to cause alarm. “For something like this to occur, I mean for something like this to happen, it's devastating. (She is the) perfect wife, perfect mother,” he said.

Flesh-eating bacteria, known as necrotizing fasciitis, is a rapidly spreading infection that often comes from bacteria similar to strep throat. Once a patient has it, it moves aggressively, killing tissues quickly. It is also very rare, infecting 600 to 700 people in the U.S. each year, 25 to 30 percent of those cases resulting in death. Doctors say they are stumped because the disease tends to enter into the body through an open wound. Where Cindy Martinez caught the infection remains unknown, leaving David Martinez worried for his family.

The Martinez family has started a GoFundMe account, asking for donations to support the growing cost of Cindy’s hospital stay. They also request your thoughts and prayers be with them at this time, as they hope for a miracle for a beloved wife and mother.