"My wife, 47 years old in great shape (walking 7 miles a day), complained of stomach cramps.
Diverticulitis had narrowed her colon, so her poop was nothing more than a thin ribbon. She didn't discuss this with her PCP (Primary Care Physician)."
"Two days before Christmas, she came home and said she thought she had the flu and just wanted to sleep. When she was changing, I noticed her swollen belly. Her normal washboard stomach looked five months pregnant. I took her to the ER as 'that isn't right.'
"ER backed up with major holidays and 'possible flu' gets the bottom of the triage list. The nurse kept asking, 'how many months pregnant?' She had a full hysterectomy, so that was not possible. Explained 'rapid change to her belly.'"
"Fourteen hours pass, finally get her X-rays. Radiologist notes 'full of air.' Ruptured colon and she just says, 'doesn't feel well.' Fully septic, the ascending colon was removed, and an ileostomy was fitted. Sepsis shut down everything, and her heart kept pumping. She coded numerous times in recovery. One tough lady, and crazy 24 hours with her after surgery.
"Hospital folks would tell her she was the Christmas miracle. Still amazed she is still with me 17 years later. For the longest time, she kept asking her surgeon, 'what is typical recovery time' and he deferred the question. She had an additional seven surgeries, so we got to know her surgeon, and he finally admitted, 'you're the only one who survived a total septic shutdown.'
Was she one in a million or more?