Mark Allen
My story starts on Saturday, June 23, 2018, when I started developing a slight fever, for what I thought, at the time, was a standard virus or cold. I continued treating Saturday as such, and switching back and forth between Tylenol and ibuprofen to break the fever with plenty of rest. However, Sunday night my fever returned and would not go away.
On Monday, June 25, I contacted my primary care physician to schedule an appointment for his next available day, which would be on Tuesday, June 26. Sensing something was wrong, I went to an urgent care who recommended I go to the ER to have an MRI for what he believed was cancer due to my fever and swollen lymph nodes. After a few hours in the ER, I was tested for the flu, received a few bags of IV fluids, and had blood drawn for testing. After my flu tests came back negative and my blood results came back normal I was discharged from the hospital in the afternoon.
Later that night, my fever came back and was hovering around 104.9, this is when I knew something was seriously wrong. With the loving care of my girlfriend, my now fiancée, I received a couple of tepid baths and all the popsicles I could take that brought my temperature back down to around 102 where it would stay for the remainder of the night.
Waking up the next day on Tuesday, June 26, I went to my originally scheduled appointment with my primary care physician. Upon arrival, I still had a slightly high temperature of 102 and had relayed information from my weekend and my rather high temperature the night before to the doctor. Again, because of dehydration from fighting a temperature, I received two bags of fluids and upon receiving my second IV, I could tell my body was starting to get abnormally warm again and requested another temperature check. After the second temperature check, in only 90 minutes, my temperature had shot back up to 103.8 and the nurse alerted the doctor, “You need to call the paramedics, I believe he is going septic.” Once the paramedics arrived, I was rushed to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA, where I was immediately admitted into the ER. After a few short hours in the ER, I was transferred to the ICU.
Once I arrived in the ICU, breathing started to become very difficult for me. I was administered 2 different breathing machines, which I rejected out of claustrophobia. My memory in the ICU starts to get fuzzy throughout the night and into the next day. My strong girlfriend, now fiancée, was standing by me this whole time relaying information back to my family in Texas.
Later that night, the doctors and my girlfriend started recommending my parents to fly to California because I was starting to be treated for sepsis. My parents arrived at the hospital early in the morning on Wednesday, June 28. I do not remember seeing or talking to them or anything else from this day. Due to my breathing complications and how hard my body had been fighting, the decision was made to intubate me and place me in a medically induced coma. A procedure that normally takes about 30 minutes to complete, took about an hour and a half. This was alarming to my sister, who is an ICU nurse in Texas, and suggested my parents get an update from the doctor. The update came, and it was not good. Through a popped blister on my toe, I contracted Streptococcus Type A which turned into the doctor’s diagnosis of: septic shock, acute renal failure (ARF), transamintis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome), acute respiratory failure with hypoxemia, hypernatremia, thrombocytopenia, and critical illness polyneuropathy. (Sepsis and Group A Streptococcus, Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome, Sepsis and ARDS)
My girlfriend’s parents, who were overseas traveling at the time, left their trip early, landed in Las Vegas, rented a car and drove to California. My sisters in Texas, after receiving the news, also boarded a last-minute plane trip to be by my side in California.
The first 3 days of the coma, the doctors had reported that I was touch and go, and were unsure if I would turn a corner. However, late on the 3rd day, I made a slight improvement that gave everyone hope. I remained in a coma and on breathing machines for another 4 days (7 total days) and was brought out of my coma on July 4th, 2018. I remained in the ICU for another night, and was transferred to a step-down ICU for an additional night, then finally I was placed into a week-long rehab facility at the hospital. After drastic improvements in the rehab facility, I was discharged from the hospital completely, and was placed at an at-home rehab for the remainder of the month.
Life returned to normal for me at the end of the month, where I was completely recovered, got back to work, and was even able to return to beach football and ice hockey. Two things the doctors were worried I would never be able to do again, because of ARDS. Complete and full recovery, with no amputations (which I read are common amongst sepsis patients), and no long term effects. A true blessing.
In today’s times, we often do not witness miracles, as we do not see water being turned into wine, a loaf of bread feeding an entire village, or anyone walking on water. But, miracles still do exist, we often overlook them in our daily lives. My story is a testament to the many miracles that still occur today and every day. Statistically, I should not be here. My medical doctors were amazing and treated me the best they could, but I believe I wouldn’t be able to write this story 8 months later, had it not been from the many prayers I received and God being with me the entire time.
What happened to me is a gut-wrenching story, however, my complications and near death experience do not define me. My future I choose to live, with the guidance of Christ, is what defines me. What has happened to us and what is going to happen to us, is a blessing and we should live every day giving thanks.
