Racheal Acuff

On June 20th 2018 I was diagnosed with sepsis and toxic shock syndrome along with DIC due to kidney infection and pneumonia. (Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome, Sepsis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), Sepsis and Pneumonia)

I went into multi organ failure including my kidneys, which shut completely down, causing me to need dialysis. I was on a ventilator, no longer breathing on my own and I was put into a medically induced coma and was given less than a 3% chance of survival, but survive I did.

After 4 weeks on a vent/trach, I began to breathe on my own. I was in the medical ICU for 38 days, getting moved to step-down care the day before my 32nd birthday. I was released from the hospital on August 6th, 6 weeks after my admission, and home for good after two weeks in rehab on August 18th. I am now happy to say I am completely healthy and my only lasting side effects of my illness are a few scars from the DIC, and I lost all of my toes and 9 fingers due to the pressers given to me during my illness which cut off the blood flow to my hands and feet in order to save my life. (Sepsis and Amputations) I am happy, grateful and blessed to be able to kiss my boyfriend, tuck in my girls to bed each night and call my mom whenever I want! But most of all I’m happy to be alive!