A Kentucky mother of two has finally returned home six weeks after a devastating health crisis that resulted in the loss of her legs, with the amputation of her arms still ahead.
However, despite all the daunting challenges she faces and has still yet to overcome, Lucinda "Cindy" Mullins remains remarkably composed and at peace.
As reported by the New York Post, the 41-year-old nurse's harrowing journey began after a routine elective surgery to remove kidney stones on December 1, 2022. Soon after, she experienced septic shock, a life-threatening condition that caused her organs to shut down.
Mullins' husband discovered her collapsed on the bathroom floor and rushed her back to the hospital.
Facing an infected kidney stone and septic shock, doctors initiated urgent treatment. She was placed on a ventilator and transferred to a larger hospital in Lexington, where she remained sedated for days in critical condition.
"It was a perfect storm — over a kidney stone," she has said previously.
Mullins' health crisis led to the amputation of her legs, and she is preparing for the impending amputation of her arms. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, she maintains an unwavering sense of peace.
In an interview with Good Morning America, Mullins said: "When they told me that I was going to lose my hands and my feet, I wasn't angry. I had a peace about me. I just felt God's presence saying, 'It's going to be OK. You're alive.'"
Dr. Nate Thomas, the rehabilitation specialist overseeing Mullins' care, praised her resilience, positivity, and determination during physical therapy. He emphasized the valuable lesson her mindset offers to her entire medical team.
"The attitude that she’s had in staying positive, staying upbeat and doing everything that she can has been something that’s been truly amazing," Dr. Thomas told GMA. "I don’t think that’s something that should be taken lightly, given the situation that she’s in and having gone through a lot."
Mullins' sister, Luci Hatfield Smith, shared an update on Facebook, highlighting her remarkable progress in rehab.
"In just a few days at Cardinal Hill she went from not moving much at all on her own to sitting up, lifting her arms to scratch her own nose, driving with her head, booty scooting all over the place, and even scrolled through her messages and sent some messages on her own," Luci wrote. "We got to enjoy some family and friend time and now she’s out.
"Now I just have to set my 15 alarms for her night time meditation and bathroom trips, but there’s no place I’d rather be right now."
Despite the challenges ahead, Mullins' faith remains unshaken, and she is eager to attend church as one of her first priorities.
"Doctors tell me they can’t put a percentage on how close I was to actually dying, and then me doing as well as I am after being on ventilator, ECMO and dialysis … for me to be doing that well, as fast I did, is yet another miracle," Mullins added.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Mullins during her recovery, raising over $267,000 to date. Mullins' story serves as a testament to the power of faith and resilience in the face of life-altering adversity.
