5.
“I was in a coma for a little over a month due to sepsis following a perforated ulcer in my GI tract. I don’t remember hearing anyone, although family and friends read to me, played recorded videos, etc. I remember ‘being’ in a dim, small room with velvet-flocked wallpaper, and ‘being’ in an Orange Julius in a mall food court with strangers. Then, I heard my mom say she was leaving on Thursday. I woke up and thought two days had passed.”
“I lost more than a month, a third of my body weight, all my muscle tone, a lot of hair, and my vocal cords were damaged due to an emergency intubation. It took another month to regain muscle control to write notes and for my vocal cords and esophageal muscles to start healing. I had failed three swallow tests before I finally passed. It took over 11 weeks from ER admit to discharge. I had months of OT, PT, and speech afterwards. Fifteen months after discharge, I was completely cleared by all but GI doctor!!!”
