Patti Alber

Memorial Day 2013 started out like any other. My name is Patti. I was 52 years young, completely healthy, no meds, and exercised everyday. I was married to my best friend, Paul, for 18 years and mother of 2 boys. I loved taking care of my family.

We got up that day to watch my oldest son march in the parade. Had a very nice morning on a beautiful sunny day. Came home, had lunch and I told my husband that I was going to take a nap before going to work that night. I had a part time job at a restaurant that I loved. And that was the last peaceful day I have had in a very long time.

I woke up from that nap with a painful, stabbing ache in my left side. I could not get comfortable in any position. Sitting, laying down, stranding, nothing helped. It was horrible and nothing that I’ve ever felt. Not one to rush to the doctor, my husband and I soon realized I needed to get help and we went to the local emergency room. They diagnosed me with kidney stones, gave me something for the pain, and sent me home telling me I had to wait for them to pass. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones)

So we went home……if only I could go back to that day and tell them to take a blood test – anything except sending me home. Well, that night got worse. I started shaking uncontrollably. I was so cold and very scared. We didn’t know what to do. The next day we went back to the hospital and they started filling me up with fluids. It started to become clear that the doctors had no idea what was wrong with me. I was getting so weak and my blood pressure was dropping. It was a nightmare. After many hours, hours that I know now were so important, the doctors told Paul that they didn’t know what was wrong and they were flying me to a different hospital. His exact words: “Mr. Alber, I am just a small town doctor and I can’t help your wife. I will never understand this.” Shouldn’t sepsis be so simple to see for a doctor?

Thankfully, the doctor att he next hospital recognized the symptoms of sepsis immediately and started treatment. By that time I had gone in to septic shock. I was put into a medically induced coma for 9 days. During that time my family surrounded me with so much love. My husband was told that I might not survive. That part breaks my heart. But I did survive. I woke up and spent about 40 days in the hospital. I wasn’t in good shape but I was alive. My organs had started to shut down and my kidneys got hit the worst. I was on dialysis about 5 times and I had 2 blood transfusions. Thankfully, I started tog et better and don’t need the dialysis. Today my kidneys are good. I had to have 8 fingertips and 7 toes amputated. I know now that I am very lucky that was all that had to be taken from me. I have had 5 surgeries on my feet and hands. All my doctors call me their miracle. They tell me I am strong and a fighter. (Sepsis and Amputations)

Today it is about 10 months later. My life is completely different. I am so tired and feel very weak. Everyday chores are difficult for me. Cooking, food shopping, laundry, driving. These are all very hard for me and I rarely do them. I loved being a Mom and wife, taking care of my family, so this is hard for me.

Some days are good, some are horrible. Some days I have no control when my body hurts everywhere. Lately I have been trying hard to push myself to do things. Some days those things are just getting out of bed and other days I surprise my family with dinner. That has happened about 4 times in the past few months. But it’s a start, right?

I am blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who love and care for me more than I ever knew. My husband, oh I could write a book about all that he has done throughout this. I was blessed the day I met him. The hardest part of this for me is what my children have had to see and live with. Their lives changed too last May. But I always say if nothing else, all this has taught them that in this crazy world, when horrible, bad things happen, there are good, good people wanting to help. Our little town we live in has reached out to us in so many ways. It’s just amazing and I wish I could thank each and everyone of them.

Believe it or not, I have left out many details of my story, lol. My dream is that doctors and nurses will get more education about sepsis. It seems so basic to me…all the symptoms were there when I was sent home from the emergency room. And now I can only wonder if my life would be different now if the doctors in the ER that day would have been more aware of it.

I hope one day I’ll be back to where I was. I will do my best to get there for me, my family and my friends.

I pray for all those who lost their lives to sepsis. And wish positive, healing thoughts, courage, strength and peace, to all of you who are recovering.