A Kentucky nurse who woke up after routine kidney stone surgery to find she had suffered a quadruple amputation due to sepsis has shared a heartbreaking picture of herself smiling as she left her hospital bed for the first time.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, mother of two young boys, wanted to have a kidney stone removed from her body, but it became infected and became septic.
She was first taken to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there by ambulance to a hospital at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
But doctors had to amputate both of her legs and told her she would also lose both arms below the elbows.
While many may lose heart after multiple amputations, Mullins' sister Luci Smith posted pictures of them smiling despite the pain outside the hospital.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, a mother of two boys from Kentucky who underwent regular kidney stone surgery but lost both legs and arms, smiles bravely despite being covered in bandages and in a wheelchair
While many may lose heart after multiple amputations, Mullins' sister Luci Smith posted pictures of the former nurse smiling despite the pain
Lucinda Mullins, 41, mother of two boys, had regular kidney stone surgery and suffered a quadruple amputation after the operation took a dark turn
Mullins can be seen smiling bravely, even though he is bandaged and in a wheelchair.
In a Facebook post, Smith thanked people for their “support, love, prayers, cards, food and visits” and said Mullins would soon be moving to Cardinal Hill for a few weeks.
She said: “We would like to thank everyone again for the support, the love, the prayers, the cards, the food and the visits (her favorite). You guys are amazing.” In the next few days we will be moving to Cardinal Hill for a few weeks and then hopefully come back for her final surgery. Y
“Every day is a blessing from God and we will continue to praise him for the miracles he has performed.” Today she was allowed to leave the room and we went outside for some fresh, fresh air. Keep praying and she will keep fighting until we finally get home.'
With a brave face on his face, Mullins said, “I've lost my legs from the knees down on both sides and I'll probably lose my arms below the elbow on both sides.”
“I'm just so happy to be alive.” I can see my children. I can see my family. I can spend my time with my husband. “These are small things at this point,” she said
As the former nurse prepares for rehab, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help her address medical bills
Earlier this week, a brave-faced Mullins told LEX 18, “I've lost my legs from the knees down on both sides and I'll probably lose my arms below the elbow on both sides.”
“The doctor I used to work with kind of said, 'This is what they had to do to save your life.' “That happened.”
Asked how she remained optimistic, Mullins said: “I just said these are the cards I've been dealt and these are the hands I'm going to play.”
“I'm just so happy to be alive.” I can see my children. I can see my family. I can spend my time with my husband. These are small things at this point.'
In addition to her family and friends, the mother also found support in her community.
“At one point I think they said there were 40 people in the waiting room here. The calls and the texts, the prayers and the things people have sent. The little words of encouragement
“I just can't imagine people doing something like that for me,” Mullins said at the hospital.
In addition to her family and friends, the mother also found support in her community
As the former nurse prepares for rehab, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help her address medical bills.
Her friend Heather Beshears set up the crowdfunding page and wrote: “Cindy, as most of her friends call her, is a kind, caring, brave and beautiful young lady who recently experienced a life-changing tragedy that will leave her as… .” quadruple amputated.
“Cindy and her family will need to make some adjustments to their home to accommodate Cindy’s needs as well as her prosthetics and adaptive devices.
The cost of this can be overwhelming. “We started this fundraiser because we want to support our hero Cindy and her husband DJ, who was by her side every step of the way.”
The fundraiser has raised $84,094 of its $250,000 goal.
Common complications of kidney stone surgery include infection, blood loss during the procedure, stones not breaking down, and injury to other organs.