“My children are my number one motivation” | Texas mother loses both arms and legs after giving birth

Cristina Pacheco was hospitalized in San Antonio with septic shock caused by a bacterial infection. Sedated for two weeks, she nearly died.

HOUSTON, Texas. It’s an incredible recovery story after a Texas mother nearly lost her life after giving birth to her daughter.

But to save her life, the mother of two had to amputate both arms and legs. On Saturday, she will finally head home from rehab in Houston.

Just 29 years old, healthy, excited and expectant, Cristina Pacheco was ready for her second child, a little girl.

“The picture of health leading to pregnancy. There have never been any troubling concerns,” Pacheco said.

She says that Amelia was born back in October without complications. Two days later they went home.

“I did have low-grade fever,” Pacheco said.

At home, she quickly realized that something was wrong.

“That’s when I started experiencing shortness of breath, vomiting, stomach pains, I couldn’t even lie down,” Pacheco said.

Christina was hospitalized in San Antonio with septic shock caused by a bacterial infection. Sedated for two weeks, she nearly died.

“They put me on an ECMO machine that basically did my heart work, and all my organs started to fail,” Pacheco said.

It worked, and even with a 20 percent chance of survival, she survived.

But she said the drugs the doctors used to save her life cut off circulation to her arms and legs. When she woke up, the damage had already been done.

“My arms and legs looked like they were frostbitten. So they were very vilified,” Pacheco said.

Having no other choice, the doctors had to amputate. At first they took them by the hands, and after a week or so – by the legs.

“It’s a rollercoaster. I’m not going to say that I don’t have bad days. This is an emotional experience. It’s hard to experience,” Pacheco said.

Moving forward only with positivity, Christina accepts it day after day, regaining her independence.

“I had to do my own makeup. I now put on my contacts myself. I can comb my hair,” Pacheco said.

After spending the last two weeks at TIRR Memorial Hermann rehab, she heads home to Pleasanton, south of San Antonio, on Saturday.

“We saw that she has made significant progress in all aspects, her limbs look great. She is ready to move on to the next step,” said Dr. Vinay Wanodia of UT Health Houston and TIRR Memorial Hermann.

Now life may look a little different than she planned, but that won’t stop her from living it.

Everyone says you’re here for a reason. God left you alive for a reason. And you have to do something in this life,” Pacheco said. My children are my number one motivation. I’m here for these babies. They are my number one priority when I get home.”

Soon she will get prosthetic arms and legs.

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