A Kentucky nurse who went for a regular kidney stone surgery ended up losing both of her legs and arms after the operation took a dark turn.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, a mother of two boys, went to get a kidney stone removed from her body.
But according to LEX 18, the kidney stone ended up getting infected and Mullins became septic.
She was first taken to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there to a University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington on an ambulance.
To save her life, doctors were forced to amputate both of her legs and informed the former nurse that she would lose both of her arms below her elbows, too.
Lucinda Mullins, 41, a mother of two boys, went for a regular kidney stone surgery ended up losing both of her legs and arms after the operation took a dark turn
With a brave face, Mullins said: ‘I’ve lost my legs from the knees down bilaterally and I’m going to lose my arms probably below the elbow bilaterally’
Mullins is pictured with her husband, DJ who she has been with since the age of 17
With a brave face, Mullins told LEX 18: ‘I’ve lost my legs from the knees down bilaterally and I’m going to lose my arms probably below the elbow bilaterally.
‘The doctor I used to work with, he kind of was like, “This is what they had to do to save your life. This is what’s happened”.’
When asked how she was staying upbeat, 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 kids. I get to see my family. I get to have my time with my husband. Those are minor things at this point.’
Apart from her family and friends, the mother also found support within her community.
‘At one time I think they told 40 people were 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 fathom that people are doing things like that for me,’ Mullins said while in hospital.
Apart from her family and friends, the mother also found support within her community
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‘I’m just so happy to be alive. I get to see my kids. I get to see my family. I get to have my time with my husband. Those are minor things at this point,’ she said
As the former nurse prepares for rehab, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up for her to deal with medical bills
As the former nurse prepares for rehab, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up for her to deal with medical bills.
Her friend, Heather Beshears set up the crowdfunding page and wrote: ‘Cindy, as most of her friends call her, is a lovely, caring, brave and beautiful young lady who has recently experienced a life-changing tragedy that will leave her as a quadruple amputee.
‘Cindy and her family will have to make a few adjustments to their home to accommodate Cindy’s needs as well as her prosthetics and adaptive equipment.
The costs of all of 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 has raised $63,906 out of its $250,000 goal.
Common complications involved in kidney stone surgery are infection, blood loss during the procedure, stones not breaking down and injury to other organs.