A teenage girl from Pittsburgh found herself in a medically induced coma after a urinary tract infection (UTI) went untreated.
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Katie Sullivan, a Central Valley High School graduate and a freshman softball player at Waynesburg University, had been experiencing lower back pain, which she attributed to her athletic training. However, what seemed like a minor discomfort turned into a life-threatening situation, leaving Katie’s family in disbelief.
Katie’s mother, Shannon, recalls her daughter’s sudden declining health, stating that Katie had been a perfectly healthy 18-year-old until she found herself fighting for her life. Initially, Katie dismissed her back pain, assuming it resulted from her rigorous athletic activities. However, a few days after celebrating Christmas at home, she was rushed to the hospital with low blood pressure and a high heartbeat, as reported by TOO FAB.
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“This has been incredibly scary. Katie is not one to complain about much because she’s very athletic,” Katie’s dad said to WXPI.
Medical tests revealed that Katie had been suffering from an untreated UTI for about a month, which had caused severe complications. The infection had created a hole in her kidney, leading to an abscess in her liver and back muscle, ultimately resulting in septic shock. The severity of the situation left Katie’s family in disbelief and fear. Earlier this week, there was a glimmer of hope when Katie showed improvement. She could move her head and even gave a thumbs-up when asked if she wanted to go home. This small gesture brought immense relief to her family, who anxiously awaited any positive signs.
Shannon emphasized the importance of getting checked out despite any minor symptoms an individual could be experiencing.
“Even if you think it’s nothing, please get it checked. 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,”
