Kory Paige Loden, a mother of three from Tennessee, faced a life-altering challenge two-and-a-half years ago. Her daughter, Mady, fell severely ill, initially appearing to have the flu. Within just 24 hours, Mady’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and doctors feared for her life.
Recalling the events, it all began one October night in 2023. Mady, then 18 months old, seemed perfectly healthy as she went to bed. By morning, her health had drastically changed. Mady became lethargic, though she continued eating and drinking initially. Her family’s assumption was that she had caught Flu B from her older brother, who had tested positive the previous Friday. As the day progressed, Mady’s condition worsened; she stopped eating and drinking, developed a fever, and experienced cyanosis in her feet and lips. Conversations with her pediatrician sister-in-law suggested that fever might cause such symptoms in infants.
In an attempt to soothe Mady, Kory placed her in the shower. However, Mady lay on the shower floor, an unusual behavior for her. As Kory dried her daughter off, she noticed her skin becoming mottled—a critical warning sign. She quickly took Mady to a nearby urgent care facility. The medical staff immediately recognized the severity of the situation and called an ambulance to transfer Mady to a local hospital. During the ambulance ride, EMTs had difficulty eliciting any reaction from Mady, indicating a dire situation.
The night was a chaotic blur for Kory. The medical team acted swiftly, ultimately stabilizing Mady enough to airlift her to a children’s hospital 90 minutes away. The severity of Mady’s condition became apparent to her parents during their journey when they were asked for consent to perform emergency resuscitation measures, if necessary.
Upon arrival, they anxiously waited outside Mady’s room as her condition was assessed. The stark reality of Mady’s health situation became evident when they were informed about the potential need for life support. Within minutes, life support became a necessity.
In the following 48 hours at the children’s hospital, Mady underwent numerous procedures, including emergency heart surgery. It was an overwhelming time for Kory and her husband. Support from their church and family provided relief, but their faith played a central role in maintaining their strength. They found solace in the belief that Mady’s fate was in divine hands.
Doctors discovered critical conditions contributing to Mady’s illness. An interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) led to the revelation that she was born without a spleen, impairing her ability to fight encapsulated bacteria, which led to sepsis. This was exacerbated by disseminated intravascular coagulation, causing uncontrollable clotting.
As days passed and Mady remained stable, further tests revealed that strep pneumonia, a common infection, had incited her sepsis. Lacking a spleen, Mady’s body could not combat the bacteria effectively. Though her condition began stabilizing, Mady faced further complications like kidney failure and progressing discoloration of her limbs. While doctors attempted to restore blood circulation and considered hyperbaric treatment, Mady was too fragile for such a transfer.
After almost two months in the children’s hospital, amputation became unavoidable. In early December, Mady underwent surgery to remove one leg. Despite these challenges, her recovery journey persisted, including further amputations. Ultimately, she embraced her identity as a bilateral amputee.
Two-and-a-half years later, Mady is thriving. She remains a cheerful, active child who navigates the world with and without prosthetics. Mady’s mother, Kory, continues to share their story to raise awareness and help other parents recognize signs of sepsis early. Mady’s experience highlights the critical importance of early detection and intervention, potentially saving others from similar ordeals.
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