Then Strep A Hit... like lightening

If there is one thing I have learned over the last year, it is to enjoy every minute of every day because life can change in a second. I truly believe that I've witnessed a miracle - I was the miracle.

On March 13th, I gave birth to Everett Carter Toews, 7 lbs 9 oz, and 21 inches. He is the biggest blessing we have received! About an hour after delivery, I was checked and the nurse discovered a hemorrhage and hematoma. I went into surgery immediately to remove a blood clot the size of an orange and repair the internal hemorrhaging. Other than experiencing a lot of pain resulting from the surgery, I was doing well and was discharged on the 15th.

Friday night I took a turn for the worse and Saturday, March 18th, Craig took me to emergency early afternoon. I got very sick very quickly, received 2 IV’s right away, and the medical team were putting in a 3rd one, this one in my neck (a central line/catheter they use when someone is very ill). This was the worst experience for me as I'm terrified of needles and was the last thing I remembered (other than what people have told me). I went into ICU immediately. My blood pressure continued to drop and I was on 4 blood pressure meds. It was a sleepless night for my family (one of several).

Sunday morning Craig asked my parents to bring Everett in to see me - he was hoping this would help settle me down. After 20 minutes my parents took Everett home but they were only there 30 minutes when Craig called and said they should return right away. (Thankfully Craig’s parents arrived from Manitoba that morning, a preplanned trip, and looked after Everett that day.) By the time my parents got to the hospital, my condition had deteriorated, I was hallucinating and in ‘fight and flight’. They were giving me every type of antibiotic hoping one would help fight the infection but they weren’t sure where the infection was or what they were fighting. I also has a allergic reaction to Gravel (which I wasn't aware of) and had to receive some drugs, similiar to an EpiPen.

In a family meeting that afternoon, the doctors told my family they suspected Strep A and that I was in septic shock. Strep A hits like lightening! The culture would be back by morning, but the medical team did not have time to wait. They were racing the clock to save my life and the antibiotics had not worked. They needed to do an emergency surgery to remove what they guessed was the site of infection, my uterus, and do a little exploration on some other organs. I was extremely high risk going in but if they did nothing I had no chance to live. I was in the hands of several different surgeons and the surgery went well, but that night I was hour to hour. Most of my family stayed at the hospital and prayed all night.

By 6:00 am on Monday morning, the medical data showed small improvement. It was a relief to know the removal of the badly infected uterus seemed to be making a difference! The doctors described it as a 26 week pregnant uterus that shredded in their hands. That day, an echo showed the right side of my heart had failed. My body kept fighting the damage from all the infection. Thankfully any goal the doctors set for my progress any day, I surpassed. My kidneys and liver had also been affected and these organs were continually monitored as well.

Two days after my surgery, Tuesday, another echo on my heart showed the left side had now also failed... and that the right side had worsened. It was termed cardiomyopathy. Even though my family had seen progress in other areas, this news was a big blow to them and they had to dig deep to find courage and hope. More prayer! We never will know whether it was post partum from my pregnancy or whether it was from the infection, or a combination. During all this time I was intubated and unaware of anything that had taken place.

Thursday, I was fully conscious and my tube was removed. We had seen signs of all organs beginning to recover, except the heart. This day was extremely hard for me - the doctors, all 4 of them (1 of which is apparently the best doctor in all of Canada and was filling in at the Rockyview Hospital, all the way from Vancouver), had come into the room with my family to tell me that I had received a partial hysterectomy. I remember tearing up and the first thing that came out of my mouth was... "Does that mean I can't have anymore kids". The doctors were calm to explain that I still had my ovaries and that there were options... but in that moment I didn't quite understand as I was very overwhelmed. I then realized I also had 28 staples in my stomach.

Finally, another echo on Friday showed some improvement. I remember waking up this morning and looking at the whiteboard in my room and seeing a number of how much I had weighed - I guess with all the IV's (Craig said he lost counts a 30 bags in 2 days) and the inflammation from the infection, I had gained 25 lbs. My legs and feet were like the size of an elephant! I had lots of visitors over the next few days which helped keep my spirits up! My family was bringing me meals everyday so I didn't have to eat hospital food (thank goodness!). Everett came to visit and snuggle with me every day (I've been told that even when I was unconscious, I would always know when he was there and cuddle up to him and not want to let go). My husband, Craig, was honestly my rock - he was calm, patient, at my side the whole time, and even with no sleep he was there to help me fight. My husband, Craig, and brother, Skip, know how much I love movies and popcorn... so they went to the movie theatre to buy popcorn/pop, bought candy, and threw me a movie night in the hospital. Amazing. My parents were there the minute I went into the hospital and didn't leave until I could cope on my own. My brother's and their families dropped work and came down the whole time I was in the hospital. Craig's family from MB flew to Calgary several times to help out. My uncle and aunt even came down to help out. Lots of my friends even drove hours and hours to come for a visit! I had prayers coming in from all over the world. Wow. My parents and family/friends were by my side throughout all of this!

Being in the hospital for 12 days was the hardest thing I've ever done - I cried almost everyday wanting to just go home and be a mother already... My biggest fears in life are needles and hospitals so the night terrors started, I would get anxious about my next upcoming needle, and I was trying to digest what had all happened. I'm so thankful for the wonderful doctors, nurses, and hospital staff because they definitely made me more comfortable. As I started to get better, I had to learn to sit upright - this was so exhausting... l couldn't even hold my head up. The next two days I got to dangle my legs over the bed and get my balance back. Then FINALLY I got to walk on Sunday for the first time - I thought I had walked about a mile, but in reality it was about 50 feet. I was so proud - everyday got better and better!

By the time I was discharged on March 29th, an echo had confirmed my heart had greatly improved and was pumping around 50 on a score of 60 (at one time it was only pumping 20 on a score of 60). I left the hospital on several medications, with strict instructions not to lift anything other then Everett, to rest as much as possible, to have help at home, and with lots of follow up appointments. What I don't remember was that the doctor told me I'd never been able to workout again or work, but I could be a mom. I'm glad I didn't hear that because I fought and was not going to let this illness change my life.

It had been a miraculous journey; my lactate levels had been so high that the doctors told us that they had never seen anyone with those levels leave the hospital. Most people have lactate levels less than 1. When you reach 7, you're in very bad condition. Mine were 14! FOURTEEN! The doctors had told me I was lucky to live. There was an army of people praying for me and we continue to give God all the glory for my life. My recovery wasn’t all ‘smooth sailing’.

I was home from hospital 2 days when I had developed extreme pain in my neck, upper body and arm. Friday morning we went back to emergency and I was diagnosed with Thrombosis. Ultrasound showed that a blood clot had developed where my central line had been in my neck and had grown upwards and down. They immediately started me on blood thinners and I was getting a shot every morning (for 5 days) as well as taking pill form, until my INR levels (rate at which blood coagulates) was at the rate they wanted it, after which I just took pills everyday. I continued to get blood work done 3 times a week for 1.5 months, and then weekly after that. The day after the blood clot was discovered, and I had gone back to the hospital for needles, we asked that they re-examine my incision as we felt it was gaping. I took 5 blanket stitches that day to pull together the wound, but still allow space for the antibiotics to continue to push out what was remaining of the infection.

I’m so thankful for all of our family who helped and stayed with us during this recovery, especially my mother who was here for a total of 7.5 weeks - wow. I must also add that the medical care I received on this journey was amazing, beginning with the team in the Emergency, ICU, and CCU, and followed by the Coagulation Clinic, Home Care and Mobile Lab.

At the beginning of May I had another Echo on my heart, and the results were great! I went off all my heart medications at that time. Mid May, I had a Cardiac MRI and the results showed everything back to normal! This confirmation was almost surreal as earlier I had been told I would never be able to do sports again. I was approved to resume activities so I have been working out 5-6 times a week to get all of my strength and muscle back. I’m feeling really good!

At the end of June, I had a few more tests and procedures. Another ultrasound on my blood clot show that it was mostly gone, with just some residual and as a result I’ve been taken off blood thinners! I also had a small procedure to remove some plastic stitches that weren’t dissolving underneath my skin, which were causing me a lot of discomfort when wearing pants.

This has been my journey in a nutshell. It’s been very draining, physically and emotionally. Craig said it was the hardest thing he has ever been through. We’ve come a long way together, and know I wouldn’t be here today without God, my family, a knowledgeable and caring medical team, and large support groups all over the world.

Many patients who get Strep A, sepsis and septic shock aren’t as fortunate as I. And although I’ve suffered a big loss, I get through the hard moments by reminding myself it could have ended much worse. Sometimes I well up with tears. Tears of - joy for my life, unbelief of what happened, tension of unknowns, heartache for not being able to carry more children, happiness for Everett and Craig being together, and for everyone that has pulled together to be with me through all of this. . . . . . As we close this chapter of our lives, we would really appreciate continued prayer as we start the next part of our life.