Krystina Pacheco, a courageous mother from Texas, underwent a cesarean section to welcome her daughter Amelia into the world.
After what seemed like an uncomplicated childbirth, Pacheco faced a potentially lethal experience just two days after being discharged from the hospital.
She had a fever, vomiting, and difficulty breathing, and was diagnosed with septic shock, a potentially fatal condition in which the body reacts aggressively to an infection.
Pacheco’s health continued to deteriorate, and her family was understandably devastated. Doctors gave her only a 20% chance of survival.
During her hospitalization, her husband Jacob had the added responsibility of taking care of their newborn daughter and their young son.
He relied on the support of their family and friends to get through this difficult time, and their constant presence gave him hope to persevere through the uncertainty of Krystina’s condition.
Pacheco spent the first 2 weeks in the intensive care unit, receiving the necessary treatment, and her condition improved by mid-November.
Doctors removed her breathing tube, allowing her to speak again.
However, Pacheco woke up from the medically induced coma only to receive the devastating news that her hands and feet would need to be amputated due to the damage caused by her intensive care treatment.
Despite the challenges, Pacheco persevered with unwavering strength.
She is currently training at home to rebuild her physical strength and will soon begin outpatient rehabilitation to increase her independence in daily activities.
Although settling back into domestic life has brought new challenges for Pacheco, she remains grateful for the ability to care for not only her children but also herself.
