Crystal J.
At the age of 39, I’m a devoted mother of three teenagers, juggling a full-time job and attending college to pursue my passion for psychology. However, my journey took an unexpected turn due to a history of chronic kidney stones. Despite maintaining a seemingly normal life, signs of trouble began to emerge. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones)
Over a period of 3 to 4 months, I experienced fatigue, water retention, and alarming changes in urine color and odor. Busy with life’s demands, I chose to ignore these symptoms until a pivotal moment changed everything. Waking up to excruciating kidney pain, a familiar sensation for someone prone to chronic kidney stones, prompted me to call in sick to work.
As I endured the pain hoping it would soon pass, things took a dire turn. Shaking uncontrollably and struggling to breathe, I realized something was seriously wrong. I made the decision to seek immediate medical attention. A CT scan revealed two lodged stones in my ureter, a 6.9 mm and a 5 mm, causing a dangerous blockage.
Upon admission to the hospital, the struggle began to establish an IV, a process that took three agonizing hours. Despite the effort, my body started shutting down, and I pleaded with them to stop. As my breathing became labored, and my lips turning blue, the situation escalated, and I was rushed to the ICU for emergency surgery.
The operating table became a blur as medical professionals worked tirelessly to stabilize me. They had left the stones there and placed a stent in so that they could fight the infection before removing the stones. Waking up with a breathing tube and tied-down hands, I learned that I had been on life support for two weeks. The gravity of the situation hit me when the nurse explained that my lungs couldn’t function independently after the stent placement to address the blockage. My heart was racing, and my blood pressure was dropping. The combination of the two symptoms could have been fatal.
After the removal of the breathing tube, I fought hard to regain control of my breathing. Gagged but determined, I took my first breath unassisted. The realization that I had narrowly escaped death dawned on me. In the weeks that followed, I grappled with the physical and emotional aftermath in the hospital, unable to walk or perform basic tasks. I had been sent home on a walker and in a diaper. I was so strong prior to sepsis. I had to have help with every aspect of my life.
Every step in my recovery is a testament to the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing health. Sepsis with severe septic shock serves as a constant reminder, and I am committed to building my strength and embracing a newfound appreciation for life.
