Sherri Moody of Houston, Texas, never would have imagined that she would lose her limbs. “I’ve never gone to the ER before in my life,” the 51-year-old told TODAY.com. “I was very healthy, very in shape. I ate right, exercised.” But despite her leading a healthy lifestyle, one thing led to another and before she knew it, things turned in a way she never expected them to.
It all started when she was on a field trip with her students. She noticed she was feeling sick, but being a high school teacher, she was used to getting a cold at least once a year. But this was much more than just the common cold.
Within a matter of days, Sherri's flu-like symptoms turned worse. She was lethargic and running a high fever, as well as throwing up and having complications with her breathing. She ended up waking her husband so he could take her to the hospital.
At the hospital, doctors discovered that Sherri had double pneumonia caused by Streptococcus bacteria. That eventually led to sepsis, which is "the body’s extreme response to an infection," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body."
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“I had to Google what sepsis was. I had no idea. We’re pretty healthy people,” David Moody, Sherri's husband, told TODAY.com. “I recognized real quick that we were in a severe situation. I was scared to pieces.”
Two days after going to the hospital, Sherri's kidneys and lungs began to shut down, which is a complication of septic shock. And to make things worse, she was already on a medication for rheumatoid arthritis that eases symptoms of the autoimmune disorder by suppressing the immune system, which in turn can lower a person’s ability to fight infections. Sherri had a long fight ahead of her.
“It was like a category 5 hurricane coming in,” David followed up to his wife calling the situation a "perfect storm" when asked about it. “She had nothing to fight with. It’s like she went to war with no soldiers.”
She was placed in a medically induced coma and given strong drugs in the ICU. The medications, however, pushed blood to her vital organs, causing the circulation in her extremities to be at risk. Within days, her limbs started to turn black. “I literally watched my wife’s feet and hands die,” David said. “They were black and they were mummified.”
Once Sherri was eased out of her coma, David told her that doctors saved her life, but couldn't save her limbs. In June 2023, she had her legs amputated below the knee and the following month, her arms below the elbows. In August 2023, after four months in the hospital and one month in a rehab facility, she was finally able to go home.
Now, Sherri uses an electric wheelchair to get around. She uses a band on her arm to insert a fork so she can eat. She’s frustrated about losing her independence and not being able to do simple tasks, like baking, but focuses on staying positive. “I’m very mentally strong,” she said. “I just choose to be happy. It’s not to say that I don’t have a breakdown every now and then and just cry a little bit. I don’t let it last long.”
*Disclaimer: The advice on LittleThings.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
