A life saved by strangers
Kate Gee Taylor spurted so much blood when a stomach ulcer burst she flatlined on the operating table. Her chances of surviving the massive hemorrhage were virtually zero. But through the skill of the surgeons, the generosity of blood donors who provided 22 units of blood, and the intervention of something she hesitates to call a miracle, she came back. Now, the 54-year-old says life is better than ever. ‘‘It has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined. I’m glad it happened.’’ Taylor, a farmer in Rangit¯ıkei, had not known she had a stomach ulcer at all, and suffered no symptoms. That was until a weekend at Cross Hills, in November 2016, when she struggled to raise her arms to put up a gazebo. She felt a bit tearful. Her friends said she looked awful. She wondered if she was having a heart attack. That night at home, with husband Mike, it was passing sticky black stools that was the telltale sign of internal bleeding. She was admitted to Palmerston North Hospital the next day, given a few units of blood, the ulcer was repaired and she was discharged. But a few days later, back at home, she felt terrible. ‘‘I opened my mouth and Mike reckons maybe two or three litres of blood came out.’’ This time the ambulance took her to Whanganui Hospital. By then, she was so low her veins were too floppy to get a needle in, so they had to go for the jugular. With more blood infused and in an induced coma, she was flown by helicopter to Wellington Hospital. She has a blank space where she did not know what happened, but has pieced it together. She was told there had been about 5 litres of blood in her stomach. The burst ulcer was acting like a fountain. They poured 22 units of blood into her veins, resuscitated her, carried out the repairs and closed up the massive incision on her tummy. Taylor was in hospital for nearly two weeks, suffered the set-back of an abscess, but slowly healed. Her hair and nails lost their strength and shine, but she came right, her only medication being omeprazole, the stomach acid soother. Taylor has a list of people to thank, from the doctors, surgeons and intensive care nurses, to the friends and family who did the housework and lawns and prepared weeks’ worth of meals. And then there is the gift from strangers who she’ll never get to thank in person. ‘‘I think of all those blood donors who gave their time and hope they know how much it is appreciated.’’ Taylor was not carrying the helicobacter pylori bacteria usually responsible for causing stomach ulcers and wondered whether the anxiety problems she had kept hidden should have been confronted. ‘‘My life was privileged, but I was always worried.’’ She underwent counselling and decided to build her fitness. The cycling went so well that last year she completed the Otago Rail Trail. ‘‘I am definitely fitter than I was before. And I always thought I was community-minded, but now I have upped the volume.’’ Friends be warned – her next party is likely to include a bus trip to donate blood. ‘‘I don’t think people realise how easy it is and going as a group can be quite fun.’’ Taylor has told her story in support of the New Zealand Blood Service and Sir Graham Henry’s campaign to build the ‘‘World’s Biggest Reserve Bench’’ – 100,000 people committed to being blood donors. People can get involved by visiting Jointhebench.co.nz and encouraging family and friends to sign up.