Serious condition
Women warn others of life-threatening infection by sharing personal stories
When Diane Mo att went into hospital for day surgery, she expected to soon be back to her usual self, but things took an unexpected and almost-fatal turn.
On July 8, 2016, she had an ovary removed. e next day she went home with nine staples in her stomach.
“A week later I went to get staples out,” said the Truro woman. “ e incision was red, there was a smell and I had a slight fever, so I was given oral antibiotics.
“That night my fever was worse and I was having problems breathing and was a little delusional.”
She was taken to hospital by ambulance, but because it was a busy night she spent time waiting on a stretcher in the hallway.
A section of skin about five centimeters long was infected, and had to be removed, and Moffatt was admitted and placed on intravenous antibiotics.
“ ree days later I was getting pockets of uid all over my body, called cellulitis,” she said. “My temperature was rising and I was rushed into surgery.
“My family was called, and I was told later I died on the table.
When she woke up she was hooked to a VAC machine (which decreases air pressure on a wound to promote quicker healing) and had an incision 34
cm long, six cm wide, and six cm deep.
She went home after two weeks, but was con ned to bed for six months.
As she recovered, she had to learn to walk again, and went through several months of physiotherapy.
While getting reports for insurance, she learned her bowel was nicked during surgery to remove the ovary. She believes that is what led her to contract sepsis.
Although she returned to work with VON, she can no longer do lifts and transfers, and can only work mornings.
“I come home from work and crash,” she said. “It’s frustrating because I was healthy until this happened.”
While Moffatt was recovering, she and a friend decided to form an online support group for sepsis survivors. It’s a Facebook group they call Sepsis survivors Canada – PSS support.
“We need to get the word sepsis out there, and let people know that, with sepsis, hours count,” she said. “I hadn’t heard of it before I got it.
“If we can help save one life through this, it’s worth it.”
Carl Smith was moving a cab- inet when it fell against his leg and cut him. He thought it was insigni cant at the time, but he now believes it could have been the beginning of a life-altering condition.
“Shortly after that, he thought he had the flu,” said his wife, Brenda. “His legs felt so heavy, he was using his hands to lift them, and they were red and swollen.”
After four days, Smith, from Truro, went to hospital. He had cellulitis and sepsis, and was kept on intravenous antibiotics for 17 days.
Carl felt a little better, but after being home for four days he was having trouble breathing, and when he laid down he felt as if he were drowning.
His doctor sent him back to hospital, where they did an EKG, CT scan, bloodwork and an ultrasound on his lungs.
He was given medication, which seemed to help for a while, but then the breathing problems returned.
A decision was made to send him to Halifax by ambulance.
“When they took him downstairs to go in the ambulance, he couldn’t breathe and the EMTS took him to the ER,” said Brenda. “ e ER doctors saved his life.”
Carl’s kidneys weren’t working and his lungs had lled with uid. He had two blocked arteries and was in congestive heart failure.
He ended up having an aortic value replacement and a double bypass.