Penny Fisher

I was infected with the Strep A virus 9 years ago, which led to contracting TSS or Toxic Shock Syndrome, and it derailed my entire life. (Sepsis and Strep A) (Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome)

Thanksgiving Vacation break, 2008: I was enjoying myself one day and just 3 days later I was on life support at a local hospital. I went to an emergency room after a very high temperature, pain and disorientation made me unable to function. The emergency room doctor prescribed pain meds and gave me a fever reducer and sent me home after hours of waiting and sleeping in the ER.

By the following day I was in full blown septic shock. After 34 hours without antibiotics, the brewing infection in my body went systemic and shut down my main organs- as a result, I lost all blood flow from my extremities this caused me to lose my foot, leg and 8 fingers. I was put into a medically induced coma where I fought for my life for 3 months, not coming out of the coma. Every organ was shut down for the first several days and then necrosis set in and my limbs lost oxygen and died. Somehow I survived by sheer will, however, I unfortunately lost all of my limbs. (Sepsis and Amputations)

Aside from adjusting to life as a multiple amputee, I suffered additional carnage as my 18 year marriage collapsed. Raising 2 teenage children without help in a big house was difficult beyond words but I am so happy with the result, two strong, smart, capable caring human beings was worth all the sweat and tears.

I’m here to say that I have survived some very dark times –there are so many layers to my story, some are the dreams that I clearly remember from my coma state. There is too much to carry on.

Trying to date and start all over with a different set of circumstances has been trying but also hilarious. There are many stories that are relatable and so many that are not. We are all survivors of an unlikely tale I believe.