Kentucky nurse who woke quadruple amputee due to sepsis after routine kidney stone surgery grimaces as doctor lifts her leg as her therapy begins

A Kentucky nurse who woke up after routine kidney stone surgery to discover she had a quadruple amputation due to sepsis has started physical therapy.

Lucinda Mullins, 41, had surgery to remove kidney stones but became septic after an infection, causing her to lose both her legs and arms.

Mullins was pictured grimly participating in physical therapy with a doctor who was seen lifting her amputated leg.

She was visited at the hospital by a friend who brought her a box of cupcakes and she posed next to them before getting into her wheelchair.

Lucinda Mullins, 41, had surgery to remove kidney stones but became septic after an infection, causing her to lose both her legs and arms

Her family has shared updates on her condition since the surgery took a dark turn and she began her journey to recovery

Mullins began her recovery on Tuesday and has remained in good spirits despite the tragedy that saw her lose all her limbs.

She is regularly seen smiling bravely despite being covered in bandages and confined to a wheelchair.

The mother-of-two was pictured on Wednesday undergoing physiotherapy with a doctor from her hospital bed.

'Cindy had another great day of therapy. She also had a wonderful visitor who brought her delicious sweets. Let's pray that every day gets a little better,” her friend Heather Beshears wrote about her GoFundMe page.

'She had a great first day of therapy! She was so excited and did so well.”

In a recent photo, her youngest son Easton helped feed her.

She was taken to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, where she will stay for several weeks before undergoing further surgery.

Mullins' sister Luci Smith previously 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 all the support, love, prayers, cards, food and visits (her favourite). You guys are awesome. In the next few days we will be moving to Cardinal Hill for a few weeks and then return for what will hopefully be her final surgery.

“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 ventured outside for some fresh air. Keep praying and she will keep fighting until we finally get home.”

She was visited at the hospital by a friend who brought her a box of cupcakes and she posed next to them before getting into her wheelchair

Mullins shared a touching photo of her youngest son helping to feed her

The 41-year-old nurse is pictured being kissed by her sister and girlfriend. Mullins was taken to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky

Mullins told LEX 18 last week: “I've lost my legs from the knees bilaterally and I'm probably going to lose my arms bilaterally below the elbow.

“The doctor I worked with was like, 'This is what they had to do to save your life. This is what happened.'

When asked how she stayed 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 get to see my children. I get to see my family. I can spend my time with my husband. Those are small things right now.”

In addition to her family and friends, the mother also found support within her community.

'I think they once said there were forty people in the waiting room here. The calls and the texts, the prayers and the things people have sent. The little words of encouragement.

Mullins put on a brave face during the life-changing event, sharing a hospital bed selfie with her husband, DJ

Lucinda Mullins, 41, mother of two boys, regularly underwent kidney stone surgery that became infected and septic, causing her to lose both her legs and arms

As the former nurse prepares for rehabilitation, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help her handle medical bills

Mullins said: “I'm just so happy to be alive. I get to see my children. I get to see my family. I can spend my time with my husband'

“I just can't believe people would do things like that for me,” Mullins said while in the hospital.

As the former nurse prepares for rehabilitation, further physical therapy and prosthetics, her GoFundMe has raised more than $200,000 toward its $250,000 goal.

Common complications of kidney stone surgery include infection, blood loss during the procedure, stones that don't break down, and injury to other organs.

When the kidney stone became septic, she was first taken by ambulance to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there to a University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington.

But doctors had to amputate both her legs and told her she would also lose both arms below her elbows.