Khirah Betts

I went into the hospital on August 4, 2017 for a routine C-section to deliver my third beautiful baby boy. He was born a little before 1:00 on that Friday afternoon. All appeared well until later on that night when I was unable to hold down any food or drink. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth)

My stomach began inflating, actually looking bigger than it was when I was pregnant. Doctors explained to me that I had an ileus and I just needed to walk it off but it was so much bigger than that. The next day the doctors told me I was in renal failure and I was sent to the ICU for that. That diagnosis would result in blood transfusions, plasma exchanges, and dialysis, which all kept the doctors occupied and unaware of the real problem. I became increasingly sick and in respiratory failure.

It wasn’t until August 10, 2017 that the doctors ordered a CAT scan and realized that I had a perforated colon, which caused me to be septic. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) My diagnosis was grim and the doctors began preparing my family for the possibility of me not making it through the septic shock. Emergency surgery was performed after midnight and thankfully I pulled through but the after effects of sepsis will forever live with me. Still, over 18 months later, I have sepsis related issues and I know I will never be the same. (Sepsis and Post-Sepsis Syndrome) I am thankful for survival but I can never forget the mental, emotional and physical toll sepsis has taken on me.