Keith J.

Christmas morning 2017, I opened presents with my kids. Before dinner was ready I felt horrid bad. I’d been in hospital the year before for a couple of weeks with a diverticulitis flare up. I hadn’t been quite right since. But Xmas day it was really bad. I went to the hospital, and I had diverticulitis that had ruptured through and drained 4.2 liters into my belly. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) I remember almost nothing until nearly Valentine’s Day when they were pulling the tube out of my throat. I was septic. Beyond septic. The first of 7 operations they removed 4.2 liters of yuck from my belly. I’d lost blood enough 3 times to say they’d brought me back. I was paralyzed. I could move my eyes and my right hand a little. I was the color of a Simpson. I lost almost 100 lbs because all my muscles atrophied. Gone. 7 months and 7 days I was in hospital until I was well enough not to need full time care. After a few months of many scans drainings and procedures the physio began to work. After full renal failure…. I didn’t piss a drop near 5 MONTHS…. Heart failure…. Months went by without going over 80 lbs bp,…. So many side effects…. 60k white blood cell counts for weeks…. A hernia the size of a bear cub …. Today I walk and gain strength and more or less everything resolved. The new normal is a thing but I’m a walking talking miracle.