Emily Anhalt
Before I begin, let me start with some background information: – I was diagnosed with FSGS (a disease that debilitated my kidneys to the point of end-stage renal failure) when I was two and a half.
– I received a kidney from my mom when I was five but the disease returned right after transplant. When I was 8, the kidney had to be removed.
– I started peritoneal dialysis when I was 8 and continued for 8 years until my peritoneum cavity failed and I had to be put on hemodialysis.
– In August 2012, I was rushed to the ER after I experienced stroke-like symptoms and my blood levels were dangerously low.
– I had to have one of my ovaries and the fallopian tube removed because there was a cyst. Docs also found fluid on my brain that needed to be removed as well.
– A few weeks later, I was back in surgery to have my other ovary fixed, due to another cyst. Luckily, this one was saved.
– In addition to this, I had multiple bleeding ulcer episodes and was quite ill for some time.
In March 2013, I began experiencing severe stomach pain which doctors dismissed as constipation cramps. During one of my hospital stays after taking GoLytely, I remember feeling dizzy. Nurses kept taking my blood pressure and it was very low. I was rushed to the hospital’s ICU. I do not remember anything after that so my mom will continue my story.
Emily’s hematocrit and platelet count was low. WBC [white blood cells] was incredibly high. When we arrived at the hospital, there were many docs and nurses tending to Emily’s needs. They were trying to find access for meds. (Em is a difficult stick due to years of constant labs.). She was throwing up blood as they were trying to get an NG tube in. They also wanted to get a CT scan. Her heart rate was dropping so they decide to take her right to the OR and skip the CT scan. The doctor found that Emily had a hole in her bowel and compacted feces in her colon. Surgery lasted most of he day, a very LONG day. When we saw Emily after surgery, she was heavily sedated with pain meds, was being pumped with IV fluids and antibiotics, on continuous hemodialysis as well as a ventilator. Very critical condition. We waited with hope moment by moment for the next day.
Emily continued to receive blood transfusions and platelets daily. In the early morning of her second night in the ICU, she went into cardiac arrest…twice! The doctors and nurses saved her. After that they put her in a medically induced coma to help her with breathing and healing. She was in this “state” for about 2 weeks? We “celebrated” her 18th birthday in the ICU, which she has no memory of. Physical therapy and occupational therapy came every day. It was so difficult to see our sweet girl so incapacitated.
Emily fought through fevers, which were due to many abscess pockets found in her belly.
Two months after this nightmare began Emily had her right hand, fingers on her left hand and her toes all amputated due to the lack of blood flow to her limbs during that critical time. (Sepsis and Amputations) My husband and I NEVER remember any of the docs/nurses say that dreaded word sepsis or septic shock yet Mike and I knew how dire this situation was.
We are very thankful that after 115 days (3 weeks of those spent in the rehab unit in the hospital), Emily came home from the hospital. Unfortunately she missed most of her senior year of high school but did receive her diploma at a ceremony in the hospital. She definitely has some challenges to overcome but she will figure it out. Luckily the doctors and nurses worked so quickly to do what needed to be done to save Emily. We are grateful for the care she received. She has an incredible fighting spirit!
Source: by Emily and her mother Cindy
