Donna Davie

I’m a survivor. I’ve been home six weeks from the hospital after a 51-day stay in ICU. I went in for a routine colonoscopy. The doctor perforated my colon. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) Septic shock and ARDS set in. (Sepsis and ARDS) They put me on a ventilator, induced a coma, which I was in for 30 days. They paralyzed me for seven days and my kidneys were shutting down. I had 16 IV bags hooked up to me and a fever almost the whole stay. They covered me with ice. My veins were collapsing. I had blood clots in both arms. A tracheotomy. When I awoke I could not talk. I was so scared not knowing what happened to me. I didn’t know if I’d ever talk again. I was not expected to make it.

It’s a pure miracle that I am alive. I thank God for this miracle every day. The chief of staff took care of me and he was running out of ideas on what to do.

How scary for my family and friends. Doctors are just not educated enough on this matter, neither are we. And then when you’re fortunate enough to go home, you still don’t know what to expect. Not a word from doctors, except it could take up to a year to feel better. SEPSIS ALLIANCE, through you I am learning that I’m not alone.

Recovery is so hard. With tremors, brain fogginess, abscess coming out of the tummy, body rejecting some of the stitches. With no appetite, I’m forcing myself to eat to gain weight. Gas pains that are unbearable, pains from where the PIC lines were all placed, I just don’t feel like myself. The worst is this scared feeling that comes over me for no reasoning. It’s awful. I now know it’s PTSD, which I only know that because of SEPSIS ALLIANCE. (Sepsis and PTSD) Through this group I am learning things the doctor can’t even tell me. And I’m hoping to find a friend to talk to about what they may be going through/went through. I thank you SEPSIS ALLIANCE. My heart goes out to the families and friends that have lost love ones.