Maria Collins

My name is Maria. I’m 20 years old and getting married soon to the love of my life. I never thought I would develop severe sepsis.

On September 13, 2023 at around 4pm I went to Thomas Memorial Hospital for what I suspected was an ovarian cyst that had ruptured. They couldn’t visualize the ovary on the side with the pain so I was given a script for Toradol and sent home.

Less than 24 hours later, at 11:30am on September 14, 2023, I dropped to the floor of my living room screaming in pain and holding my right side. My lovely fiancé carried me to our bedroom where I lied in excruciating pain and screaming.

I wore myself out to the point of exhaustion. After an hour, I began shaking and shivering in extreme. My fiancé called his grandmother, a retired RN, who told him to call my OBGYN for further instructions.

The OBGYN said to come back to the ER as soon as possible, as I was showing signs of sepsis. My fiancé called 911 and within 25 minutes EMS had arrived.

I was lethargic and had a fever of 102.9F initially,. I was rushed to the hospital.

My heart rate was in the 130s and my blood pressure was dropping rapidly. The nurses in the ER blew four veins trying to get an IV started due to my pulse and blood pressure differences.

Eventually I was transferred to another hospital for more monitoring. My body was exhausted and all I did on the 15th of September was sleep. My lovely fiancé stuck with me the entire time.

My diagnosis was severe sepsis caused by E. Coli. I had eaten something shortly after finishing a round of prednisone prescribed for an asthma flare up that was infected with it. (Sepsis and Impaired Immune System)

I’m very lucky to be alive and I’m thankful for the second chance at life.