Charlene Thomas

On February 7, 2018, I started to vomit in the afternoon and then the abdominal cramps started. I finally called 911 and was taken to the hospital with a diverticuli that had burst. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) Had surgery the next morning but already had sepsis. Was immediately put into ICU after the surgery. I went into septic shock and was mentally in and out of it. I started into kidney failure.

I had been told I was allergic to penicillin when I was in my early 40s and that I could never have it as the allergy was really bad. My infectious disease doctor tested me with the skin test for this allergy and found that I was no longer allergic to it. He immediately changed my med bag to a very strong penicillin type med and with this he turned me around and I did survive. I know I was blessed as so many, once they go into septic shock do not survive. I am thankful every day that I had such a wonderful infectious disease doctor working with my case.