Kierstin’s Story

Site created on May 11, 2018

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

Newest Update

Journal entry by Stu Nelson

Wow.  Is it possible that time can fly by in a blink and somehow feel like you have lived more in four years than in the proceeding 28?  As I sit here writing this today, I am overwhelmed with the level of gratitude, peace, contentment, joy, life, and love I've been blessed to  have been given and to give.  Today marks four years since the process began to have my left leg amputated.  Four years since I was given a 2 - 5 percent chance of survival, I experienced the first of two comas, and underwent my first of 26 surgeries.  But also, four years since my family with the fierce power of God at their back stood in defense of my life, I encountered the true nature and person of Jesus for the first time, and I almost lost my life to ultimately find it.  But the time for boo-hooing is over!  It's time for praise and celebration!

Yes, these four years have been met with many Everest and Mariana Trench moments and there are 44 billion CaringBridge updates to prove it.  Shout out Elon Musk. :)  For every difficult moment there have been many more lovely ones.

Truth: I lost my left leg.  Higher Truth: I learned what it means to walk in faith and gained a robot leg.  

Truth: I lost my eyesight.  Higher Truth: I gained true vision of God's love and purpose and how to love others in kind.  

Truth: I lost what I planned for my life to be.  Higher Truth: I realized what life really is, what it can be, and what God has for me.   

First, gratitude.  I thank God every time I think of you.  I am so thankful for every single person that has been or is a part of my journey.  The impact is huge, no matter how big or small, constant or momentary your part of the journey, every single one of you has made a difference!

Second, people will often comment "how do you do it?  You are so positive! It is amazing what you have been through and come through."  I have even thought to myself, 'I am grateful for the trial because of who I have become as a result.'  But to be honest, that has never sat quite right with me and I didn't know why.  But then I received this revelation of perspective: Don't glorify the trial, glorify God and the grace He gave you to overcome it.  In practical terms, don't glorify the event of losing my leg and my vision but pay all glory to God for the grace He gave me to overcome it and keep fighting.  Grace in the form of strength, courage, patience, positivity, determination, and a little humor.  God has grace equal to any trial you may face.

Finally, the reason for praise and celebration is because of the grace God gave me to overcome and enjoy every moment.  

With a full heart,

Kierstin

"The life I've been given's a gift, if I'm gonna live it, I'm gonna live it to death" - Lecrae

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