Heidi Clausen

On April 14, 2013, I entered the ER with severe back and lower right hand quadrant pain. I was diagnosed with a kidney stone and kept over night for pain control. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) The next day I became ashy, confused, couldn’t breath and ended up having a small heart attack.

I was diagnosed with septic shock. It seems that the kidney stone was blocking the ureter tube causing a back up of fluid containing e coli. Slowly, my vital organs began shutting down and my brain began to swell. The doctors watched me closely for the next event and acted quickly by filling my body with antibiotics, adding a nephrostomy tube and constant monitoring.

I stayed in the hospital for a total of 10 days and recovered at home but was very weak. I needed help with the smallest of tasks but slowly built up strength and work on some short-term memory loss. I still get tired occasionally (hitting a wall) but am feeling much better. I owe my medical team for saving my life!