A Kentucky mother of two who woke up after a routine surgery to find she had suffered a quadruple amputation shared a heartwarming photo of her youngest son helping her feed her as she shared pictures of her missing legs for the first time.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, had to undergo surgery to remove kidney stones, but the kidney stone became infected and became septic, causing her to lose both legs and arms.
Mullins' support system has provided updates on her condition since the surgery took a grim turn. In a recent photo, her youngest son Easton helped feed her dinner.
The 41-year-old nurse was transferred to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, where she will remain for several weeks before undergoing further surgery.
“She made it to Cardinal Hill today and could even feel the tiny snowflakes on her face as she left the UK.” “She's more than ready for this next step and a change of scenery for a few weeks,” said Mullins' sister Luci Smith in a Facebook post on Monday.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, had to undergo surgery to remove kidney stones but woke up. A quadruple amputee shared a moving photo of her youngest son helping her feed him
Mullins is pictured with her hair tied back and smiling with her medical care team
Mullins put on a brave face during the life-changing event, but after her first day of therapy, she shared a photo of herself resting in her hospital bed covered in bandages.
“She had a great first day of therapy! She was so excited and did so well,” said her friend Heather Beshears, who set up Mullins’ GoFundMe page.
Another photo shows Mullins with her hair tied back and smiling with her medical care team.
When the kidney stone became septic, she was first taken by ambulance to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there 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.
Upon her arrival at Cardinal Hill, Beshears posted a photo on the GoFundMe page of Mullins and her husband, DJ, smiling from their hospital bed.
“Keep praying, we are one step closer to home,” Smith said.
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.”
After her first day of therapy at Cardinal Hill, she shared a photo of herself lying in her hospital bed covered in bandages
The 41-year-old nurse is kissed on the cheek by her sister and friend. Mullins was transferred to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky
Mullins put on a brave face during the life-changing event, sharing a hospital bed selfie with her husband DJ
“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.
As the former nurse prepares for rehab, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help her address medical bills.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, a mother of two boys, had to undergo regular kidney stone surgery which led to infection and sepsis, causing her to lose both legs and arms
As the former nurse prepares for rehab, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help her address medical bills
Mullins said: “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.
Beshears set up the crowdfunding page and wrote: “Cindy, as most of her friends call her, is a kind, caring, courageous and beautiful young lady who recently experienced a life-changing tragedy that will leave her a quadruple amputee.”
“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 $173,768 of its $250,000 goal.