Elizabeth Vaughn

Late April 2019 I was diagnosed with pneumonia. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) On May 1, I went to work (have no memory of this day). My co-workers called my boyfriend to come get me as I was sitting at my desk slumped and they said my skin was blue and I appeared to be having trouble breathing. My boyfriend came and got me and took me home. Everyone said I was arguing and would refuse to go to hospital.

I came home and went to bed. The next morning, my boyfriend called 911 as I was totally unresponsive and hot to the touch. This was May 2, 2019. I woke on May 14, 2019 and had no idea where I was or why. A nurse came in and told me I was in ICU. Later that morning, my boyfriend walked into room and there were tears on his face as the doctors were telling him that I may not recover. I reached down and felt myself and found I had lost body mass, my hands were shaking something fierce and I could barely hold a fork to eat. I had to learn how to walk again. I had lost so much of myself.

One afternoon on the 16th day, a nurse came in to tell me I had had severe sepsis and that my heart was damaged. I was finally released to go home on May 23, 2019.

It is now August 7, 2019 and I am walking 30 minutes plus a day, have gotten most of my lost muscle back and I am grateful to be alive!!

I am so thankful to God and my beloved boyfriend for being by my side.