Shauna Haustein

Hi there. First of all I would like to say how very thankful I am that I found this group as I was starting to believe there was no help at all for the survivors. It just seemed the hospital cut you loose sent you on your way with no insight or direction.

My illness started 5 years ago when I was hospitalized with megaloblastic anemia that was so severe, I had numerous blood and platelet transfusions. This killed my already low immune system, so for the next 5 years, I was in and out of the hospital with various types of infections. Each one following seemed to get worse each time.

Last year it was so bad, I couldn’t keep anything down and was hospitalized three times with what they diagnosed as pancreatitis. I was put on special meds through IV and spent about three weeks in the hospital. They kept releasing me only to have my parents take me back there as I could not stop throwing up and could not take care of myself. My parents were in great fear as they thought I was going to die because I had deteriorated so much. (Sepsis and Impaired Immune System)

One day my dad said, “We are taking you and demanding that you be sent to the city hospital.” And thank goodness he did because by the time he had taken me to our hometown hospital, I had gone into a coma and was urgently evacuated to the city, where I arrived DOA. The doctors brought me back thank the lord. But I slipped into a coma again and was placed in ICU, where a team of specialists was formed and did every test imaginable. Apparently I was given very aggressive treatment and when I came out of the coma, I had IVs and tubes running everywhere including a breathing apparatus.

At this point I didn’t know where I was and didn’t even know my name or who I was!!! It was so frightening as I had no comprehension at all!!! As time went on and they treated the sepsis, I started coming along, first recognizing my family, but I still struggled with certain things like time, my name and where I was. It eventually came to a point where I was able to come home, where for a long time was so weak and bedridden. I still had problems with food and could only eat sips of chicken broth and popsicles. I lost 70 lbs, which added to my weakness.

I started therapy so I was able to get back some of my motor skills and my speech came back, but I still stuttered. I mostly had problems with my memory, which frustrated me the most!!! They had mentioned acupuncture (which I thought was totally hokey) but, oh my word I couldn’t believe how much it helped me.

I fought hard for six months to regain back as much as I could and the team said I surprised them as they truly thought I was at my best at three months.

Since then, I have my follow-ups with my specialists, but I was told and now accepted that my sepsis was left for too long and was so severe that it permanently damaged my body. This means my memory, my slightly disabled walk, sometimes slurred speech and fatigue will be for life. I was so depressed but realized that wasn’t doing me any good, so I chose to turn that negative energy around and not be a victim, but rather turn it into positive things and become a survivor!!!!!

This is when I started doing research and started reaching out to help others. That right there is better than any medication they could ever give me.

I go by a saying, “If it is something you want and is meant to be, there is no other way. It is up to me!!!!

I hope you have gained something from this long-winded experience and please feel free at anytime to contact me, as I would love to hear from you. Take care life is precious!!!! My email is brontilane@gmail.com