Erin Imperati

Erin Imperati
Survivor

It started a week before Christmas of 2015. I thought it was pneumonia. I couldn’t breath or walk very far. I was rushed to a local hospital. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) They were running test and scans. There was some internal bleeding from my liver. I was sent to the ICU where they did more testing. Within a couple days I was transferred to a much bigger hospital.

My first surgery was a day after arrival to the hospital. They had to debride my wrist and get some of the infection out. After that I was put in the ICU again because my oxygen levels were really low and my heart rate was very high. At this point doctors didn’t think I was going to make it. I was seen by dozens of doctors and they all agreed I was the sickest person in the hospital. I had test after test done. They found more damage. This time it was 2 heart valves that were leaking. On top of that I had a lot of fluid in my lungs. I ended up back in the OR so they could drain the fluid from my lungs. I ended up on a breathing machine.

They had to put a picc line in because they need to give constant meds. I was in so much pain from the infection. At this point it was certain that I was going to need open heart surgery. February 2nd of 2016 I got transferred to a hospital closer to home that was willing to do the surgery. At this point I’ve been in the hospital for a little over a month. Before they could do the surgery they had to clean out my right lung again, so it was back in the OR.

On February 9th I was suppose to have my heart surgery, but my blood thinned too much and they didn’t know why. Finally on February 11th I had my heart surgery. It was only suppose to be 5 hours, but there were complications and it turned out to be 11 hours. I had severe bleeding, which required a lot of blood and one of the mechanical valves didn’t want to fit. I was on life support for a week because my lungs didn’t want to work. I also had wires placed because they anticipated that I was going to need a pacemaker.

On February 18th I had a permanent pacemaker placed. I am now 100% dependent on the pacemaker. While on the cardiac floor I had to get sent back into the OR to get a chest tube put in because I had fluid around my heart. Finally on March 11th I got transferred to the rehab floor. I was going on 3 months in the hospital, all of which I was bed bound. I had to relearn to walk, dress myself, strengthening my left hand, learn how to bath myself. It was a long road. Finally on May 6th I was released from the hospital. Almost 5 months in the hospital.

I’m on numerous of medications. One of which requires blood work two times a week. The after effects of sepsis are hard. I can’t walk long distances, I can’t use my left hand a lot, and I get out of breath easier. I’m no where close to being a normal 28 year old, but I’m thankful to be alive. (Sepsis and Post-Sepsis Syndrome)

Thank you for letting me share my story

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