Rebecca Driver

In August 2016, I had a gastric bypass.  We did not know that I have problems with scar tissue. I had another baby boy August 2018. During my pregnancy I felt miserable. I thought I was going to die and wanted to. I cannot express the amount of pain that pregnancy put me through because my uterus was falling. We thought he was laying on my intestines.

In June (2019) one evening I started having horrific blackout pain. I was vomiting blood and literally dying. We went to our small hospital and I was airlifted quickly to a bigger hospital in Mobile, AL. After I was given morphine at the smaller hospital, I don’t remember anything. I woke up almost 3 weeks later On a ventilator. I found out my intestines had herniated and eventually ruptured. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) My entire body was in septic shock and my organs were already shutting down. (Sepsis and Septic Shock) I was a few hours shy of death. My surgeons and medical team told my husband I was probably not going to make it. Through God’s grace I fought and made it. I was told I would wake looking for my children and then would fall back under sedation.

I have had a very long journey trying to figure out how to live a relatively normal life again. The intestines have given me issues like short bowel syndrome and I have to watch nourishment very closely. The septic shock did more to me than I care to admit. In the beginning my body did not quite work like it should. I couldn’t get my legs or hands to work; though over time it has gotten much better. The biggest toll has been on my mind. I feel as if I am slower. I have always had a sharp quick mind and now it takes me a little longer to comprehend things. When there is a lot going in a room I cannot concentrate very well. Sometimes it takes me longer to remember things such as people’s names who I should immediately know. When you look at someone your mind automatically fills in blanks, such as I look at my spouse and my mind quickly would comprehend husband, Charlie, etc. Whereas now that comes but it almost seems slower like husband…Charlie…etc. (Sepsis and Post-Sepsis Syndrome) Some days are better than others, I’m not sure why. Some days I can get more tasks done and focus more. Other days I ache a lot and feel very exhausted and it takes a lot just to get my kids through the day. I am not a year out yet so I still have a prayer for some improvement. I am also very blessed with lots of family and church help.