Candy F.

It was December 2014 just after Christmas. I had a blackhead pimple on my left inner thigh. I had had them before in my ear or or other areas and they would hurt for a few days, pop, drain and heal. Not so this time. The area got bigger by the day. I was nauseated and very tired. I suffer from chronic pain so the pain I was able to deal with. As a nurse, I finally realized I was not going to be able to recover from this without an antibiotic.

I went to my primary care and was sent to the hospital. There I waited in the E.R. for four hours with my husband and I got so sick that I had to lay down on the floor; I was about to faint. I was admitted with sepsis syndrome and treated with antibiotics. My BP was very low. I asked the CNA what it was and I was told it was 50/30. I realized then that I was in septic shock. It took 2 days to stabilize me enough for surgery. I was in renal failure and my liver test were not good either.

I spent 28 days in the hospital. I was on dialysis for 3 weeks. I wasn’t expected to survive. I did and I went home although I was told that I would never be able to care for myself. I do have many issues with my health. I have had renal failure once since then from a respiratory infection. After 2 1/2 years I have realized that though I will never be able to return to the work I so loved, I can have a good quality of life as long as I keep a positive outlook. There are good days, bad days and the really bad days, but I know that on those really bad days that there will be a good day around the corner. I have a lot to live for with a wonderful husband and 7 grand children. I may not be the active grandmother I would like to be, but I can still enjoy my family and be a positive influence in their life.