Ryan Eisner

In the fall of 2007, I went into septic shock and was in a medically induced coma for a week. I went to the hospital because my fever was over 100 degrees. The physician told me that I was dehydrated and gave me fluid and a steroid then sent me home.

The next day I felt worse and was extremely weak. I could not get out of bed and my parents came to get me from dormitory in New Jersey (I was in college at the time). I went to my physician from home, and she too told me I was dehydrated and gave me the same treatment. The next morning I woke up, my fingers and toes were blue. Also, I was freezing. I went to another doctor and had a pulse of 140 and a high fever. I went to North Shore LIJ emergency room immediately.

At first they did not know what to diagnose me with, but I had the eerie feeling I was going to die, a feeling that is indescribable. After many tests and 10 hours of being in the hospital, I was diagnosed with pneumonia and was going to be released that night. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) My father went home to get my clothes. When he came back there were 5 doctors over my body and I was put on a ventilator as well. I had gone into septic shock. The last words I remember from the doctor were “I am going to put a tube in you to save your life.”

As you can imagine, walking into that scene is a parent’s worst nightmare. The doctor in the room went up to my father and said, “Your son took a turn for the worst.” My father could not understand because I was supposed to be released just 30 minutes before. They told my Dad I had a 20% chance to live. It was a horrifying scene that he then had to explain to my mother who was home sleeping.

I woke up in the ICU a week later and was in the hospital for the next 2 weeks recovering. It was a long process. The drug that saved my life is called Xigris. I fit the mold of someone who it can be given to; I happen to have been great shape from playing college basketball and was the right age. From my understanding, they only give the drug to 3-4 people a year.

Thankfully, I made a full recovery and got back to living life pretty normally after about 3 months. I even got back into shape to play basketball my senior year of college and graduate on time. I am extremely fortunate that I had no long-term health affects, minus some scarring in my lungs.

I was browsing your website, and wanted to share my story. Even though it has been just about 6 years since I was ill, it is an event that I think about on a daily basis, whether it be for a long period of time or just a moment.

In addition, the same New York Times writer who brought to light the Rory Staunton tragedy also engaged me and published a story in the Times as well. It was a follow up from Rory’s case: Athlete’s Near-Death From Sepsis, and His Mysterious Recovery