Quadruple amputee Kentucky nurse finally returns home after she woke up from routine kidney stone surgery with no arms and legs due to sepsis
Cindy Mullins, 41, woke from an anesthetic just before Christmas to discover doctors had amputated all four limbs in a desperate bid to save her life after a kidney stone infection led to blood poisoning.
The mother of two young boys from Ferguson had been taken to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington.
Through physical therapy, she can now sit up, lift her arms to scratch her nose, drive her head, scroll back and forth everywhere, and scroll through her messages.
In an interview with Good Morning America, Mullins talked about what she would do when she got home and explained what went wrong with the rock removal.
Cindy Mullins, 41, woke from an anesthetic just before Christmas to discover doctors had amputated all four limbs in a desperate bid to save her life after a kidney stone infection led to blood poisoning.
Cindy Mullins, 41, begins her final round of rehabilitation after losing her limbs to sepsis
Through physical therapy, she can now sit up, lift her arms to scratch her nose, drive her head, scroll back and forth everywhere, and scroll through her messages
‘The hardest thing about this is that I miss my children, of course. Without my faith, I don’t think I could be where I am today. “The plan is for me to go to church on Sunday morning, and I can’t wait for that,” she said.
She explained that she had opted for an elective kidney stone and that the doctor had left a temporary stent in her body after the surgery to prevent blockage.
Per doctor’s orders, she removed the stent at home, started feeling sick and was found on the floor by her husband, DJ.
Mullins was immediately rushed to a hospital and doctors began performing tests on her.
The former nurse said: ‘They checked my blood pressure and it was 50 over 31, and in my mind I knew that wasn’t good. They gave me an IV in both arms, and I can’t remember anything after that.’
To stabilize her condition, she was placed on a ventilator before she could be transferred to a larger hospital in Lexington. Her family was then told that she was in a dire situation.
Mullins then received dialysis to help her kidneys and an ECMO machine to give her heart and lungs time to rest and heal.
“My husband and sister were there and they told them I was on the edge of a cliff and it was going to get worse before it got better. After the surgery, I was on ECMO and dialysis, and I was still on a ventilator,” Mullins recalled.
She explained that she had opted for an elective kidney stone and that the doctor had left a temporary stent in her body after the surgery to prevent blockage.
Per doctor’s orders, she removed the stent at home, started feeling sick and was found on the floor by her husband, DJ. Mullins was immediately rushed to a hospital and doctors began performing tests on her
Mullins shared a touching photo of her youngest son helping to feed her
The determination becomes apparent when Cindy learns to scroll on a cell phone with her elbow
While her organs were getting the support they needed, her legs and arms began to develop blisters.
By the time she was taken off the ventilator, her legs and arms had deteriorated severely and had to be amputated.
‘When they told me this would happen, that I would lose my hands and feet, I wasn’t angry. I had a peace about me. I just felt God’s presence saying, “It’s going to be okay. You’re alive. This is what happened,” and I wasn’t angry about it.
‘Doctors tell me they can’t put a percentage on how close I was to actually dying, and that I’m doing as well as I am now after being on a ventilator, ECMO and dialysis… I did that, is another miracle
“It was just one of those things where they explain all the bad things that can happen when you have surgery, and I thought that rare case was really healthy,” Mullins said.
“The doctor I worked with was like, ‘This is what they had to do to save your life. This is what happened.”
“I just said these are the cards I was dealt and this is the hand 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 little things right now,” she said.
Cindy, her husband DJ, and their two young sons before the blood poisoning that nearly took her life
By the time she was taken off the ventilator, her legs and arms had deteriorated severely and required amputation
The 41-year-old nurse is pictured being kissed by her sister and girlfriend
Friends and family have posted regular progress updates on their appeal page and have praised Cindy’s spirit as she tackles her grueling rehabilitation.
“Cindy had another great day of therapy, she also had wonderful visitors who brought her delicious treats,” wrote friend Heather Beshears.
“Let’s pray that every day gets a little better.”
Cindy said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, including more than 40 hospital visitors at a time.
“The calls and the texts, the prayers and the things people have sent. The little words of encouragement,” she added.
“I just can’t believe people would do things like that for me.”
Once she returns home, Mullins will rely on a power wheelchair to get around independently and will receive a prosthesis so she can eventually walk.
Her GoFundMe has raised $256,909 of its $300,000 goal.