Nicole Taylor

My name is Nicole Taylor and I am lucky enough to say that I am a SEPTIC SHOCK SURVIVOR!

I am a 32-year-old female with a history of recurrent calcium kidney stones. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) In 2009, I was rushed to the hospital with flank pain radiating from my back to my groin. The doctors told me that the cause of this pain was from kidney stones, which I later learned I was unable to pass. I was in kidney failure and had to have emergency surgery to remove the stones. For the next seven years, I lived a healthy, active life without any other problems.  All of that changed on January 30, 2016.

I started having similar pains that I had in 2009. The pain was so severe my fiancé Chris, took me to the nearest hospital where I spent the next 8 hours in the ER with a fever, unable to urinate, vomiting, shaking uncontrollably, and having difficulty breathing. When I was finally seen by a doctor and was given an ultrasound, I was told I was dehydrated and that I would pass the kidney stone that had formed. I tried to explain my history with kidney stones, even told them about my 2009 surgery, and the response was “every stone is different, you will be fine and will pass it in time”.  All of my other symptoms were ignored, I was given my discharge papers and sent home!

The next day, I woke up in excruciating pain.  I could not get warm and was shaking uncontrollably. My abdominal pain was so bad I could barely move. My fiancé insisted we go to a different hospital. As soon as I was admitted to the ER, I began vomiting and was told I was dehydrated again. I explained I had a kidney stone and I felt like I was going to die. I laid in the hospital bed shaking non-stop. My symptoms were getting worse. They took some blood, administered IV fluids and put me on morphine for the pain. When my blood results finally came back, I had an abnormally high white blood cell count and a heart rate of 170. I was moved to the ICU of the emergency department and was told I needed to have emergency surgery to release the infection caused by an obstruction (kidney stone). A stent was placed to allow the urine to flow through my ureter. Unfortunately, by this time the infection spread completely through my entire body.

I was rushed to the ICU in a medically-induced coma fighting for my life. I was intubated, hypoxic, and hypotensive. I did not respond to IVF (4fl) and a central line was placed. My blood pressure was 43/32 and I was immediately started on 4 pressers.  I developed hypoxic respiratory failure with severe ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). (Sepsis and ARDS) I was now in full Septic Shock!!!!! (a widespread infection causing organ failure and dangerously low blood pressure). My family was told to notify all family members because if I did not start responding all my organs were going to shut down and I was going to die.

Luckily for me, Dr. Dellinger, a world renowned and leading authority of treating septic shock, practices medicine at the hospital where I was being treated. In order to be a candidate for his case study, I needed to have a blood toxicity level of 6.0. Mine was at 8.9!  Three days after the procedure, my blood pressure was rising and I was being weaned off some of the medications.

On February 7th I was removed from the ventilator and came out of the coma. I remained in the hospital for another week on oxygen and IV antibiotics. I was told I needed another surgery to remove three 2mm stones that were still in my left kidney. The surgery went well and the stones were removed. After all of this, shortly before leaving the hospital, they found a blood clot in my right leg (femoral vein extending to the great saphenous) and I was put on blood thinners for the next 3 months to dissolve the clot.

I had a really rough time being on blood thinners. They started me on one medication which my body just rejected. I was getting extremely dangerous high INR readings no matter what dose they prescribed. I felt horrible and not myself. They switched me to another medication, which I was very wary about, because I heard so many horror stories from people on it. I was willing to try anything to dissolve the clot. After a couple of doses, I finally started feeling like myself again. Only downfall was that I began to lose my hair. We were not sure if it was from the septic shock or the medication. After all that I endured, losing my hair was the least of my worries. I was still alive and that is all that mattered.

February 14, 2016 DISCHARGE DAY!!! I never thought this day would come. Once I got in the car, I took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief. All of this was so overwhelming. I had to keep reminding myself I made it! I am still alive! I knew I had a long road to recovery but I was willing to take on one obstacle at a time. Day by day was my new motto. From this point on, I had to learn how to do everything all over again. I was very weak and had trouble walking. I could not even hold a 6oz cup of water without help. My life had completely changed. A once independent 32-year-old woman now had to depend on family and loved ones to care for me. I had to move home with my parents for 3 months to get back on my feet. Let’s face it, no matter how old you get you always need your mother especially when you are sick!

Fast forward 7 months September 8, 2016, the month dedicated to Sepsis Awareness, and here I AM! My mother-in-law calls me “her walking miracle” and she’s right because I am a SEPSIS SURVIVOR and this is my story!
Without my family and my amazing fiancé’s love and support, I would have never made it through this nightmare! I cannot thank Dr. Dellinger and his team and all of the doctors and nurses enough for all they did for me! They saved my life!

I am so touched by all those who reached out to me from around the world to hear my story. We are all in this together. Let’s continue to spread Sepsis Awareness and to treat kidney stones more seriously.