Maha Christopher
A Virginia Beach woman who initially believed she was suffering from a stomach bug was later diagnosed with life threatening sepsis and toxic shock syndrome after doctors first suspected an autoimmune disease.
According to People, Audrey Leishman began experiencing symptoms in March 2015 shortly after having her intrauterine device (IUD) removed as she prepared to try for another child.
Leishman said she resumed using tampons after her first menstrual cycle in 18 months, but soon developed severe symptoms including stomach cramps, high fever, nosebleeds, diarrhoea, shortness of breath and intense pain in her elbow and toe.
“I could barely hold my 18 month old son because I was so weak. My temperature was 102°F,” she recalled.
As her condition worsened, Leishman sought medical attention, but doctors initially suspected she was suffering from an autoimmune disorder.
“I actually thought I was going a little bit crazy. I hadn’t injured myself. I was really confused as to what was going on,” she said.
After a series of tests, she was admitted to hospital and spent 10 days in intensive care, including five days in a medically induced coma.
Doctors eventually diagnosed her with sepsis and toxic shock syndrome, a rare but serious condition caused by certain bacterial infections.
“I had never heard of sepsis, and I realized that was why I almost died,” Leishman told Fox News.
“If I had known what the symptoms were and what to look out for, I would have sought treatment earlier.”
Following her recovery, Leishman underwent extensive rehabilitation, including physical therapy, to regain her strength and learn how to walk again.
The experience inspired her and her husband, Marc Leishman, to establish the Begin Again Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about sepsis and supporting patients facing serious health challenges.
“It is my absolute passion and honor to continue to do that,” she said of the foundation’s mission to help others navigate recovery and understand the warning signs of sepsis.
