Rachel Sutherland

When I was 36 years old and 16 weeks pregnant, I was admitted to the ER with what would later be determined H1N1 influenza. (Sepsis and Influenza) The swine flu as it is commonly known, is a hybrid of pneumonia and influenza. I contracted it at work, from a sick co-worker who came into work “with a cold”, and I subsequently spent 30 days in a coma in the ICU. After many treatments, drugs, dialysis, blood transfusions, contracting sepsis, and other problems, I awoke from my coma. I was still pregnant, had breathing tubes and would be hospitalized for a total of 46 days. I didn’t physically drink a glass of water for 39 days. My muscles had deteriorated and I couldn’t walk. I had to move in with my mother after my discharge because I couldn’t cook for myself or feed myself.

I was beginning to realize the enormity of my memory problems and the long-term effects of a permanent breathing condition within about a week. I have always been sharp, and detailed, and I was struggling to put together minor thoughts and sentences. I became like an incoherent ADHD teenager. Eventually I worked through it because I had time off work.

I delivered a beautiful baby girl at 37 weeks and she is healthy and continues to thrive. It has been 18 months since I woke up from my coma and I still suffer every day. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, and chronic lung conditions, all because I didn’t get a flu shot. I still work on Sudokus daily to sharpen my memory skills and brain games. I went back to work when my daughter was 10 months old and the anxiety and pressure were enormous. Now I just keep a lot of reminders and lists and do my best and just thank my lucky stars that we are both alive.

Rachel’s story was written up in local paper, the Calgary Herald.