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A mother heard her family say her last goodbyes because of her fight against sepsis which saw her lose all her toes, some fingers and her right hand.
Racheal Acuff, of Missouri, went to the hospital in June 2018 when she noticed that there was blood in her urine – a sign of a kidney infection.
The doctors diagnosed pneumonia in the 32-year-old woman now and her condition quickly deteriorated over the next 12 hours.
The last thing she will remember before being sedated for three weeks is to undergo numerous tests to determine what was wrong.
When Ms. Acuff arrived, she was shocked to be told that she was under septic shock – a complication of sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, and that she was on dialysis.
She spent 38 days in intensive care before being released in August 2018. In the months following her return home, she had to perform several amputations because her near-death battle limited blood flow in certain areas. parts of his body.
Racheal Acuff, 32, had to listen to her family say her last goodbye while being sedated as she struggled against sepsis. On the picture at the hospital on an unknown date
The mother of Eden, 13, and Reagan, 9 years old (pictured), had no symptoms other than the tiredness that preceded her the day she went to school. Hospital on June 19, 2018. In the photo, after his illness
Ms. Acuff was sedated for three weeks, with the doctors having done numerous tests to determine what was wrong. In the photo, under ventilation to help breathe
Ms. Acuff's family, including her boyfriend Taylor, 36, and daughters Eden, 13, and Reegan, were summoned to the hospital to say goodbye. On the picture recently
Ms. Acuff said, "I should not be alive for medical reasons. So, something more powerful is in my corner for sure.
"I remember hearing my family crying when the doctors told them to bring their family to say their last goodbyes, but I was sedated and I had no way of answering them." to these requests.
"I felt totally helpless, but I knew I had to fight to prove them wrong. I did not feel like dying and I was not going to do it.
"When I woke up for the first time, I was totally surprised, and then I went into combat mode. I started fighting harder every day to get better.
The 13-year-old mother of Eden and 9-year-old Reagan had no symptoms of pneumonia other than the fatigue that preceded the day she took her to the hospital on June 19, 2018. .
Pneumonia can develop very suddenly in 48 hours, with symptoms such as coughing, rapid heartbeat, and fever.
A kidney infection usually occurs when bacteria enter the tube that carries urine from your body before reaching the bladder, causing cystitis, and then ascending into the kidneys.
Upon Ms. Acuff's arrival, the doctors passed a number of tests, including low blood pressure to be registered.
Septic shock, a complication of sepsis, is characterized by a drop in blood pressure to a dangerously low level after an infection.
Ms. Acuff said, "I had no symptoms of pneumonia and I only had knowledge of kidney infection when I was peeing blood.
"I drove to the hospital as my boyfriend [Taylor, 36] was currently in the same hospital with gallbladder problems.
"The last thing I remember is that I was told that they were going to install me upstairs, and then I was sedated. for three weeks.
Ms. Acuff was suffering from sepsis, septic shock, toxic shock syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a common blood clotting disorder in patients with sepsis. On the picture at the hospital
Ms. Acuff spent nine weeks fighting for her life at the hospital. In the photo, on the outside, in a wheelchair, while she had to gain strength to walk in a rehabilitation facility
Despite her initial surprise upon waking, Ms. Acuff's mission is to improve herself and her family. On the photo with his boyfriend Taylor while he was awake at the hospital
Meanwhile, Ms. Acuff's family was summoned to the hospital to say their last goodbyes, which she could hear but which she could not answer.
When Ms. Acuff arrived a few weeks later, she was shocked when her mother told her what had happened.
Ms. Acuff said, "When I woke up, my mother explained that I had septic shock, a DIC, and a toxic shock syndrome of unknown origin."
CID is disseminated intravascular coagulation (CID), a common blood clotting disorder in patients with sepsis.
TSS is caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria, which are normally harmless but can release toxins deep into the body that damage tissues and organs.
Ms. Acuff said: "I was under a fan that helped me breathe, a feeding tube for all my nutrients, a port-a-cath for my dialysis because my kidneys no longer worked and two IV for access to the blood and to give me all my medications.
Despite her initial surprise upon waking, Ms. Acuff's mission is to improve herself and her family.
She spent 38 days in an intensive care unit before being transferred to a rehabilitation unit for an additional eight days and spending two weeks in an inpatient rehabilitation facility regaining strength to walk.
On August 29, 2018, Ms. Acuff removed the dead parts of four fingers from her left hand, and then the dead tissues of her five fingers from her right hand were removed on September 10, 2018.
Ms. Acuff was cut off from her ten toes on September 24, 2018, which allowed Ms. Acuff to learn to walk for three weeks. In the photo right after the surgery
On May 22, 2019, Ms. Acuff suffered a trans-radial amputation of her right hand two inches above the wrist due to her lack of mobility and function.
In August 2018, nine weeks passed before he was sent home.
Since returning home, Ms. Acuff has undergone surgical procedures to amputate her fingers, toes and hand, which have been damaged due to lack of blood circulation during her illness.
Sepsis can lead to overdrive of the blood clotting mechanism and cause obstructions in the blood vessels.
When blood can not pass through the blood vessels, oxygen and essential nutrients can not reach the body tissues. The tissue may die and require amputation.
On August 29th, she had the dead parts of four fingers removed from her left hand, and the dead tissues of the five fingers of her right hand were removed on September 10, 2018.
On September 24, 2018, she had to have her ten toes amputated, forcing Ms. Acuff to relearn how to walk for three weeks.
Ms. Acuff underwent a revision surgery to remove a finger on her right hand on March 28, 2019 and May 22, 2019, a trans-radial amputation of her right hand two inches above the wrist due to her lack of mobility and function.
She learns to adapt to life without her right hand and is waiting for a prosthesis in a few weeks.
Although her healing was incredibly difficult, Ms. Acuff said it had shown her a strength she did not know she had and that she had taught him to enjoy everything in life.
Ms. Acuff said, "The healing process of sepsis was long and discouraging, but in the end, it gave me a strength that I did not know that I had.
Ms. Acuff, photographed with hospital staff who treated her, said that she had "no medical reason to be alive" and that she "had no reason to be alive. she was trying to make people aware of the symptoms of sepsis.
Ms. Acuff, photographed with Reegan at an unknown date, learns to adapt to life without her right hand and hopes to have a prosthetic hand in a few weeks.
Although Ms. Acuff's healing was incredibly difficult, it taught her to enjoy everything in life. On the picture with her family, including her parents, at her house
"The recovery of each operation was different, my foot operation being the worst, I could not walk on it for three weeks and it was very painful.
"My last amputation of the hand was difficult in that I lost a whole hand. Fortunately for me, I am left handed and they took my right, but it's always different.
I've grown so much through this process in myself and in my faith in God.
"I enjoy every moment, somehow, and I never take life for granted. It's such a special gift that you have received, so live it well, because you'll never know when we can take it away, and when it's really bad, remember it's a bad day , not a bad life. & # 39;
Since her almost fatal experience with sepsis, Ms. Acuff has been given a mission to raise awareness about sepsis.
She said, "The only symptom I had was excessive fatigue. I have never had a fever and I had no other sign of infection. My advice to anyone reading my story is to be your own doctor first.
& # 39; Take control of your disease, your doctor works for you, have them take this exam or lab work. They are not perfect and they do not always catch things.
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