Wendy B.

Sepsis can be stealthy. I was in my good state of health the past December 30. I had had been feeling a wee bit more fatigued than usual but being 65 and working full time as a registered nurse I figured it was just the subtle changes due to aging. I had just finished marketing and had carried out a much wanted food processor to the car when I felt familiar twinge of a possible kidney stone. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) My thought was to have my husband drive me home, put a warm pack on my tummy and see if it would pass.

After reaching home and trying the warm pack, it was apparent I was going to need to go to the ER. Just as I was getting ready for my husband to drive me I felt excruciating pain down my legs and I started to cry. My husband called an ambulance and within the hour I had been rushed to the ER, where a urologist on call determined I needed a stent (tube) placed in my ureter as a stone was blocking the flow of urine from my now very swollen left kidney.

While I was in the recovery room sepsis took over. I was rushed to the ICU, where they did a fluid resuscitation and put me on two medications to keep my blood pressure up (vasopressors). I spent a day and a half in the ICU and another five days in a regular room recovering from the resuscitation. Not the way I wanted to spend New Year’s.

I am home now, not quite myself. Everyday is a new beginning and all i can feel is immense gratitude to the women and men who acted quickly, saved my life and helped me back home.