Welcome to Kierstin's CaringBridge site. It has been created to keep friends and family updated on how her progress and journey is going. We appreciate your support, words of hope and encouragement, and prayers for continued healing during this time when it matters most.
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"WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING"
Saturday, April 28th --> Kierstin fainted and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She is a Type I Diabetic and it was suspected initially that it was related. That afternoon she had emergency surgery on her left calf which was discovered to be swollen and infected upon arrival at the hospital. She was admitted to the ICU, placed on a ventilator, dialysis, and was sedated into an induced coma following the first surgery.
Sunday, the 29th --> It was discovered that the infection had spread to her knee and another surgery was completed to continue to combat the infection.
Monday the 30th --> The family received more information regarding Kierstin's status which included specifics on the type of infection she was fighting. The bacteria in her leg was a very aggressive, fast moving flesh-eating bacteria (necrotizing fasciitis). Even with all of the additional care, attention, and medication from the medical team, Kierstin's body continued to struggle in fighting the infection. She had a third surgery on her thigh to fight the further spread of the infection. In that surgery, high-potent antibiotic beads were placed throughout her thigh to directly stop further spreading. With all of the attention, surgeries, and placement of the antibiotics, the spread of the infection had somewhat slowed and paused.
Tuesday May 1st --> More information had surfaced of her body attempting to fight the necrotizing fasciitis. The doctors were hopeful that the antibiotics would slow and aid the spread of the infection. Unfortunately, the pace picked up on Tuesday and the doctors set up a meeting with the family to discuss the developments and need for major surgery. In order for Kierstin to have a chance at survival, the doctors made it clear that Kierstin's leg had to be amputated. With Kierstin still in a coma, the family had to make the excruciating decision to have the surgeons amputate her leg. The entire medical team stated Kierstin had a 0% chance of survival if they didn't amputate immediately...and even in doing so, the team still could not guarantee she would make it, but it at least gave her a chance in ridding the infection from the body in order for Kierstin's immune system to start redirecting its attention to recover.
Wednesday May 2nd --> Kierstin's team said she had been upgraded marginally to a 5-7% chance of survival. This was to be expected after such major surgery and Kierstin's body needing to focus on healing and recovering. Still severely low however, the information was at least a step forward and away from 0%.
Thursday May 3rd --> She had another surgery late Thursday evening, more so for exploratory and cleaning in order to allow the surgeon to fully assess and check on how the progress was moving. During the surgery, the team looked inside Kierstin's abdomen in order to confirm there was no further progression of the infection After the operation, the surgeon and his team became "cautiously optimistic" for the first time that the infection had stopped spreading. He upgraded her percent from 7% to 50% and was quite encouraged by how she was doing.
Friday-Sunday (May 4th - 6th) --> Kierstin's sedation was slowly reduced in order to start the long process of getting her fully out of the medically induced coma. She has been kept at a 10% sedation for comfort and pain control but also keeping her sedated for her scheduled operation for Monday. She is truly a fighter and so strong. Being reduced in sedation, Kierstin is able to answer commands with head nods and has been motioning with hand gestures. She has been fighting through this whole time and continues to do so.
Monday May 7th --> An additional surgery was performed to do a final cleaning and to complete the close up procedure in order to begin the healing and recovery from all the surgeries.
Wednesday May 9th --> Kierstin was released and transitioned from the ICU to the recovery floor at Methodist Hospital. She now begins the recovery process through physical therapy and getting her body back “online” and retraining it to function normally.
At this time, Kierstin is in isolation (no visitors allowed except immediate family). Prayers are the most powerful way to be helping. Although she has a long road ahead of her, Kierstin continues to make huge strides already in her recovery.
Thank you for the prayers, support, care, and love you have shown and continue to show Kierstin.
"Reckless Love" | Cory Asbury -->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
