Kimberley Williams

Survivor

My story starts out with what I thought was a boil coming up in my groin area. I get them frequently. The infection got bad quickly. My girlfriend drew a line on my leg because the redness was spreading quickly. She said that if it went past the line then I was being taken to the ER. I remember promising I would go the next morning. I remember nothing else. She said she got me to the ER. They admitted me.

My girlfriend was keeping a close eye on the boil and took pictures to document what was happening. On the fourth day in the hospital, the infectious disease doctor came in and she showed him the progression. Nickle-size green blisters started showing up and popping quickly. She showed the doctor the pictures and instead of waiting for the blood work from that morning to come back, he decided on emergency debridement surgery (1 of 5). It took 5 surgeries to get it completely cleaned out.

I had necrotizing fasciitis and had become very septic. (Sepsis and Necrotizing Fasciitis) They had me completed sedated because I had become extremely violent and was delirious. They had me on 4 extremely strong antibiotics, trying to kill both infections. My son who was 23 at the time said I scared him so bad. After 2 weeks they let me come out of the sedation. I had a wound that was the size of a 6-7lb roast. I had a wound vac on as well. I was finally released after a month in the hospital.

I had to have home health care nurses that came out 3 times a week, as well as a physical therapist 3 times a week, to get me up and walking again. After 3 months with the wound vac on, we decided that I would go through with a skin graft. It took 8 months for it all to completely heal. My doctor said I was very lucky. He honestly thought I would die if not I would have to have my leg amputated. I have my leg! I do suffer with chronic pain now but I am alive! (Sepsis and Post-Sepsis Syndrome)

 

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