Nancy Tatum kisses her husband, Mark Tatum, after a segment on televisions Ripley’s Believe It or Not, was shown on Jan. 24 in Owensboro. Tatum lost his eyes, nose and roof of his mouth to a disease called mucormycosis. The disease, caused by a fungus, is normally fatal. Photo by Bryan LeazenbyOWENSBORO Mark Tatum is smiling these days. Not because of any job promotion or hitting it rich in the Powerball, but because he survived a nearly fatal fungal disease. He is just happy to be alive. Last February, the 44-year-old was diagnosed with mucormycosis, a disease that took away his eyes, nose and roof of his mouth. It also took away his chances of living a normal life. Mucormycosis is a rare infection caused by fungi commonly found in soil, spoiled food, bread and dust. The fungus infects blood vessels, restricting blood flow to the nose, mouth and eventually to the brain. Those infected usually die shortly after being struck with the disease. How Tatum, who lives in Maceo, contracted the infection is unknown. The disease strikes those with weakened immune systems who are suffering from conditions such as diabetes or leukemia. Nancy Tatum, Marks wife, believes a steroid her husband was taking for back pain might have weakened his immune system. Mark Tatum was taking the steroid after a fall two years ago while working part-time as a landscaper. On Feb. 7, 2000, Tatum was taken to the Owensboro Mercy Health System emergency room after showing signs of confusion. Doctors lowered his blood-sugar level, which had skyrocketed. I knew it was bad, Tatum said. Nancy took me to the hospital, and I passed out right when we got there. After doctors successfully lowered his blood sugar, his face began to swell. A biopsy was performed on Tatum, and Dr. Khaled Joujia, an infectious disease specialist, diagnosed him with mucormycosis. Dr. Joujia said he had worked with five people who had it before, Nancy Tatum said. He said four of them died and one was severely disfigured. The fungus quickly infected Tatums nose, mouth and eyes and was making its way toward his brain. Less than a week after being diagnosed, Tatum was taken to University of Louisville Hospital and given a life-or-death decision: he could have surgery to remove his eyes, nose sinuses and the roof of his mouth, or a hospice could keep him comfortable until he died. Surgery would eliminate infected areas, but Tatums chances of living would still be slim. Tatum said despite the pain and suffering, his decision was easy. I wanted to go for it, he said. Tatum survived the surgery much to the amazement of the Louisville medical staff. After surgery, Tatums condition improved, despite a series of ministrokes related to his disease. In August he had surgery to reinstall the roof of his mouth, which allowed him to speak, eat and drink normally again. Three weeks ago, however, he was dealt a setback after suffering a full stroke that left his right side partially paralyzed. He is in a rehabilitation program at OMHS.Damian Howard, an occupational therapist at OMHS, said Tatum is progressing daily. Soon he will have cosmetic surgery to install a nose and artificial eyes.