A former Kentucky nurse who underwent frequent kidney stone surgery but ultimately lost both her legs and arms is seen smiling as she leaves her hospital bed for the first time.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, mother of two boys, went to have a kidney stone removed from her body, but it became infected and became septic.
The mother was first taken by ambulance to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there to a University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington.
To save her life, doctors were forced to amputate both her legs and told the former nurse she would also lose both her arms below her elbows.
But while many may lose heart after multiple amputations, Mullins' sister Luci Smith has released photos of the former nurse smiling through the pain.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, a mother of two boys from Kentucky who underwent regular kidney stone surgery but ultimately lost both her legs and arms, smiles bravely despite being covered in bandages and confined to a wheelchair
While many are losing hope after multiple amputations, Mullins' sister Luci Smith released photos of the former nurse smiling through the pain
Lucinda Mullins, 41, mother of two boys, underwent routine kidney stone surgery and ended up with a quadruple amputation after the surgery took a dark turn
Mullins smiles bravely despite being covered in bandages and in a wheelchair.
On a Facebook afterSmith 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. Y
“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.”
Putting on a brave face, Mullins said, “I've lost my legs from the knees bilaterally and I'm probably going to lose my arms bilaterally below the elbow.”
'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
As the former nurse prepares for rehabilitation, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help her handle medical bills
Earlier this week, putting on a brave face, Mullins said LEX 18: '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
“I just can't believe people would do things like that for me,” Mullins said while in the hospital.
In addition to her family and friends, the mother also found support within her community
As the former nurse prepares for rehabilitation, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help her handle medical bills.
Her friend, Heather Beshears, has the crowdfunding page and wrote, “Cindy, as most of her friends call her, is a sweet, 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 equipment.
The cost of all this can be overwhelming. We started this fundraiser because we want to support our hero Cindy, as well as her husband DJ, who has been by her side every step of the way.”
The fundraiser raised $84,094 of its $250,000 goal.
Common complications of kidney stone surgery include infection, blood loss during the procedure, stones that do not break down, and injury to other organs.