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- Cindy Mullins, 41, underwent surgery to remove kidney stones in December, but went into septic shock after an infection and lost both legs and arms.
- Her family has shared updates on her condition since the operation took a dark turn and she has been adjusting to her new life.
- The mother-of-two is now due to undergo further surgery in Britain on February 7 to amputate her forearms and has asked for support and prayers.
The Kentucky mother who lost all of her limbs to sepsis after routine kidney stone surgery will return to the University of Kentucky Hospital for another procedure next week.
Cindy Mullins, 41, underwent surgery to remove kidney stones in December but went into septic shock after an infection, causing her to lose both legs and arms.
Her family has shared updates on her condition since the operation took a dark turn and she has been adjusting to her new life.
Mullins has been undergoing rehabilitation and has learned to steer a mobility scooter with her head, stretch her muscles and sit upright as she continues to fight for her independence.
The mother of two is now scheduled to undergo further surgery on February 7 to amputate her forearms and asked for support and prayers.
Mullins woke up from sedation just before Christmas to discover that doctors had amputated all four of his limbs in a desperate attempt to save his life after a kidney stone infection caused blood poisoning.
The nurse had been recovering at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, but was able to return home to her husband DJ, 43, and children Teegan, 12, and Easton, seven, on January 12.
She has remained overwhelmingly positive despite her ordeal, as she exclusively told DailyMail.com: ‘I just want people to know that this is not a sad story.
‘This has a happy ending. I am alive. I can be with my children and my husband.’
A fundraising page has been created for Mullins on GoFundMe and has so far raised more than $287,000 to help pay for his medical costs.
She sent an update on January 31 to her followers and revealed that she was going to have surgery again.
‘We finally got the updates we were waiting for. Surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday in the UK to amputate my forearms,” she said.
‘Ok prayer warriors, it’s your time to shine.’
Septic shock that occurred days after Cindy underwent a harmless elective procedure in December to remove stones from her right kidney meant her legs had to be removed immediately.
His arms were so severely damaged as his blood pressure dropped dangerously low that his hands and forearms also had to be amputated.
‘Surprisingly, I wasn’t upset, I didn’t question it. “She wasn’t angry,” Cindy says of the harrowing moment when doctors informed her that she was undergoing a quadruple amputation.
“I know there will be tough times coming, but just knowing that I would be able to see my kids again and that I had the support of my family, I think that gave me peace to be okay with this.”
DailyMail.com visited Cindy’s home in Waynesburg, an hour south of Lexington, to see the remarkable progress she has made after six weeks in the hospital and grueling daily rehabilitation sessions.
She has learned to “glide,” stretch her muscles, and sit upright on her own. She can also use her nose to scroll through the countless texts and messages of support coming in from all corners of the US.
Cindy can now also eat alone with a specially adapted fork attached to her arm.
However, the family is still adjusting to the changes, including having to start each day with a two-hour process in which DJ dresses and wraps his wife’s recovering wounds to keep them clean, airtight and free of further infection. .
Cindy said she is determined to return to her job, where she worked for 17 years as a certified medical assistant at Bates, Miller & Sims, a local family practice, as soon as possible.
When the kidney stone became septic, she was taken first to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there to the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington in an ambulance.
But the doctors made the decision to amputate both his legs and informed him that he would also lose both arms below the elbows, otherwise he would die.
Friends and family have been very supportive and have praised Cindy’s spirit as she tackles her grueling rehabilitation.
“Cindy had another great day of therapy, she also had a wonderful visitor who brought her some delicious candy,” wrote her friend Heather Beshears, who created the GoFundMe.
‘Let us pray that each day is a little better.’
Cindy said she had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support which has included more than 40 visitors to the hospital at one time.
Her GoFundMe page says: ‘Cindy and her family will have to make some adjustments to their home to accommodate Cindy’s needs, as well as her prosthetics and adaptive equipment.
‘The costs of all this can be overwhelming. We started this fundraiser because we want to support our hero Cindy, as well as her DJ husband, who has been by her side every step of the way.
‘Cindy and DJ have two young children who miss their mom and dad terribly. Sometimes life is hard and there is no way around it.
‘Cindy and DJ’s world has come to a complete stop, but the world around them continues to move forward. Let us help ease their burden as they heal and return to their lives. We hope to allow Cindy to focus on her recovery.