My mom underwent testing of her bladder. During this test she was hunched over as there were some complications which put pressure on her stomach. More on this later. She went home after the test and, over the course of a couple days, her legs began to feel numb. She would describe the feeling as if she did hundreds of squats. She was having trouble walking due to the pain.

She spoke with the doctor, who she had seen for the bladder test, who advised her to go to the hospital. Their opinion was that her symptoms sounded like a blood clot. She took the doctors advice.

The hospital dismissive, calling her symptoms as pinched nerve/stenosis. All this would've needed is a CTscan or Ultrasound. The hospital was persistent of an MRI needed but unable to perform until after the weekend, suggesting she wait the 3 days. 

After being sent home, the pain has progressively become worse. At one point, she collapsed unable to walk. My sister (a licensed CNA) is contacted to help and makes a comment that her leg looks "dead."

My dad takes her to an urgent care facility. The pain has become the center of this visit. The urgent care suggested that, if the pain is too bad, they can transport her to the closest hospital (as they suggest this to all patients in chronic pain). Without conducting any independent testing, they support the hospital doctors stenosis lead. They give her pain medication. They do not so much as even examine her foot. How can they make any sort of diagnosis without even so much as an exam??

Back home again. We have lost valuable time.

My mom, still in pain, has now noticed that her foot is beginning to turn purple. At that point my dad drives an hour to another hospital. She is admitted and starts further testing. Emergency surgery is performed for blood clots in her aortic valve in her stomach. One of the countless unknown clots must've dislodged during the bladder test and traveled to her leg. The surgeon went in and was successful with removing all these clots.

Now the focus was to try and save my mom's leg. They had her leg in warming blankets and even used nitroglycerin sheets on her foot. All in hopes to the return of blood flow/pulse. After a couple days, the doctor said its time to go in and check if anything was still viable. If not, then they'll try to salvage as much of her leg/foot as possible.

Unfortunately, her foot was without blood flow for too long. She had her leg amputated from right below her knee.

The surgeon made comment that still haunts us: if she would have got here 12-hours earlier than he probably would've been able to save her leg/foot.

During all the testing, they find cancer cells in her thyroid. She has a staghorn kidney, and recent PETscan shows something with her lung.

We're now waiting to find the missing puzzle piece to the true cause of all the blood clots and what's going on with her lung.

With all that my mom has gone through - and will go through - having that minimal piece of normalcy of being able to walk unassisted is something I want to give her. She has been incredibly positive during this entire ordeal. Still smiling, still working, still trying to live a normal life. A life I'm truly grateful is still here.

Anything will help. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to her story, her journey, and being a part of her miracle. ♥️

Prayers for Tina Marie, Mommy, Mom, Mimi

We all love you!