College Freshman's Untreated UTI Leads to Septic Shock, Medically Induced Coma

Photo:Getty

Getty

A Pennsylvania freshman went from happily celebrating the Christmas holiday at home with her family to being in critical condition at the hospital within the span of a few days due to an untreated urinary tract infection (UTI).

Once at the hospital, doctors determined that Sullivan was in critical condition and needed treatment immediately. They also tested her to find out what exactly was causing her illness.

“We weren’t given much hope,” she said. “We brought all our family in. Hour to hour, we went out and celebrated that she didn’t deteriorate.”

It was about a week and a half before Sullivan was finally able to communicate again. The family said she was able to shake her head “yes” or “no” in order to respond to basic questions.

“Even if you think it’s nothing, please get it checked,” Sullivan’s mother said. “Because never in a million years, and I’m a nurse practitioner, would I think she would be here with renal failure, intubated, and being given a dire diagnosis at 18.”

source: people.com