Ashley

Survivor

On 10/17/19 I went in for an outpatient laparoscopic procedure to help my rare swallowing disorder achalasia. (Sepsis and Surgery) I had no idea 2 days later I’d be fighting for my life. I had a tear in my lower esophagus causing massive peritonitis and sepsis. I was rushed back to surgery to repair the tear and wash out my abdominal cavity.

I developed septic shock, multi organ failure and fluid in both my lungs and abdomen. (Sepsis and Septic Shock) I spent almost 2 weeks in the ICU with tubes coming out of almost everything. I’ve had fluid drained from my lungs, pelvis and abdomen. Doctors told me if it weren’t for my age and athleticism, I would likely not have survived.

I spent 31 days in the hospital in total recovering from septic shock and I am so lucky and grateful to be alive. As an RN, I’ve always been in the other side of the health care relationship and I learned so much about what it feels like to be the patient!

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