A Texas woman lost her limbs after giving birth to her precious baby girl. She went through several challenges while on the road to recovery, and eventually realized she was kept alive for a reason.
When you’re pregnant, you hear about many things that could go wrong during your birthing experience. However, it never really occurs to you that it can be more than just a story – there’s a possibility it’ll happen to you, too.
This was the reality of a Texas woman named Krystina Pacheco, who welcomed her daughter Amelia through a C-section delivery. She thought it would be like any other C-section, where much of her recovery would happen at home. She thought wrong.
Signs of Trouble
On the second day of her recuperation, Pacheco suddenly felt feverish and experienced other symptoms like vomiting and shortness of breath. She shrugged these off as normal post-partum symptoms and was given ibuprofen.
Things went south quickly when she remained sick despite drinking medicine. She decided to finally visit a doctor, who no longer allowed her to head back home.
Instead, she was brought to the emergency room and was airlifted to another hospital to be treated for septic shock, a condition when the body responds extremely to an infection. The medical team needed to act quickly, as the condition was fatal.
Her Husband’s Plea
The last thing Pacheco remembered was her husband pleading in her ear. She heard him say:
“Please come back to us, please, your babies need you. I need you. I need you to be here and help me with our babies.”
While doctors were hopeful, the reality was she had a 20% survival rate. They didn’t want to admit it to her husband, but he could see it in their faces every time he asked for an update.
A Crushing Development
Pacheco received treatment, and although it ultimately saved her, it cut off the circulation to her hands and feet, and the only way to save her life was to amputate her limbs.
Pacheco was “absolutely crushed” and heartbroken, recalling her limbs resembled that of a person who had experienced frostbite.
She broke down, crying to anyone who would listen. She was devastated that her life would never be the same and that she would no longer get to do the things she used to.
Despite her reality, Pacheco chose to see the brighter side of things. She leaned on her children, Amelia and Owen, for strength through the surgeries she needed to undergo.
Fighting to Live
Through it all, Pacheco remained a fighter. Her husband Jacob commends her for being so strong, but she admits she also has her bad days.
“It’s a roller coaster. I’m not going to say I don’t have my bad days, because I do,” she said. It also hasn’t been easy for Jacob, who credits his family and friends for keeping him afloat.
While Pacheco was in the hospital, Jacob made sure to stay by her side. Their family would volunteer to remain at the lobby, where they gladly took care of Amelia and Owen.
Getting Used to Her New Life
Despite all the challenges, Pacheco is happy she is able to do things not just for her children, but for herself. “God kept you alive for a reason,” she was told, and for her, that reason was to be with family.
More than caring for her son and daughter, she is able to brush her hair, put on her own makeup, and even her contact lenses. These small wins are enough to keep her going, as she takes things one day at a time.
In a similar story, a woman about to give birth fell into a coma due to a brain aneurysm. Weeks later, her husband lays their son on her chest, and she begins to cry.
Source: news.amomama.com
