“I honestly didn’t know how sick I was”
Raquel Godin rode waves of emotion as she faced major health challenges 25 years ago. Today she rides literal waves, fuelled by a positive attitude and a spirit of gratitude.
Raquel Godin doesn’t remember much from those early days in the intensive care unit at Health Sciences Centre in 2001. She had just been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and sepsis. Her liver and kidneys were failing; she was sedated for her intense pain; her blood pressure had plummeted; and she was alert only intermittently.
“I was in the ICU for six days and it was a blur,” she says of the experience, “but one thing I remember clearly was the nurse who would come to my bedside and sing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ while she cared for me.”
Twenty-five years later, she gets teary-eyed and emotional remembering the interactions—a classic melody and hopeful lyrics that shone a light on a better tomorrow, even when Raquel and her husband Rob were told that she only had a 10% chance of surviving.
Raquel was 26 years old when she was struck by meningitis. She worked at a child-care centre and spent her free time taking part in outdoor activities. She was happy, fit, and healthy—“I don’t think she had ever taken a sick day in her life,” says Rob.
One day, she started feeling flu-like symptoms. She didn’t think much of it at the time, but within 24 hours, she couldn’t even move enough to get into the car to see a doctor. Rob called an ambulance, and Raquel was taken to an emergency room. Rob suspected that Raquel had meningitis as there had been an outbreak in Winnipeg at the time. A spinal tap confirmed the hunch, and it quickly became clear that the meningitis had caused sepsis (the body’s extreme response to infections, including bacterial meningitis).
Raquel was quickly transferred to HSC where she was treated in isolation in the ICU while doctors and nurses worked to stabilize her.
“Why is everybody making such a big deal out of this?” Raquel remembers thinking in a more lucid moment. “I honestly didn’t know how sick I was. In my mind, I thought I just had the flu.”
“She completely crashed and she wasn’t even breathing on her own,” recalls Rob. “The doctor was kind and compassionate, but also very clear and direct. He said there was very little chance Raquel would survive. And even if she were to survive, she would likely experience serious complications like limb loss.”
After six days in the ICU it became clear that Raquel would in fact beat the odds and live, but it also became clear that the road ahead would be bumpy. Both legs would have to be amputated below the knee, as would fingers on both hands. Devastating news—but in the context of her survival, Raquel and Rob were able to accept it calmly.
“I was okay with the amputations. I felt so well cared for that I knew it was going to be okay. I didn’t feel scared,” says Raquel. “They reassured me that even though things would be different, I would still be able to function and have a full life.”
In the weeks following her amputation surgery, Raquel’s kidneys recovered. She later underwent complex microvascular muscle flap surgery where muscle from her abdomen was removed and used to partially restore function in one hand.
Raquel’s right leg healed about six months after the onset of her illness; her left leg healed after two years and many surgeries, the last being a 13-hour surgery that involved taking healthy tissue, arteries, and veins from her back to restore damaged tissue on her left leg.
“I know it sounds strange to say this, but I honestly have fond memories of my time in the hospital,” says Raquel. “They didn’t just care for me, they cared for Rob and our families, too. I am forever grateful for them, for Rob, and for our families. During my initial three-month stay at HSC I didn’t spend a single day or night alone.”
“The nurses were incredible. Their level of expertise and compassion was off the charts,” adds Rob, who spent his nights by Raquel’s side. “It wasn’t perfect or easy; in fact it was an emotional roller coaster, but that’s when we felt the support the most.”
Today, the Godins live in Maryland and have two college-aged children. Raquel works in a prosthetic clinic, providing support and resources to patients who are new to limb loss; and in her spare time, she enjoys water sports, dancing, and other exercise. She lives her life with a positive attitude, and with the spirit of gratitude. That one ICU nurse was prophetic; Raquel Godin is indeed living somewhere over the rainbow.
HSC has been providing exceptional care for over 150 years. Raquel Godin’s story reminds us that our teams today stand on the shoulders of giants, inspired by generations of excellence and compassion. By supporting the HSC Foundation, you can help today’s doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals continue to provide outstanding care. Please donate today.
By Stu Slayen
