Susan Edwards's story

I'm a victim/ survivor of fungal meningitis.

I received 8 injection in my lower back on July 17, 2012 a day I will never forget. After getting them I was feeling like I was coming down with the flu but never did. I was in and out of the ER and doctor's office. I couldn't do anything during the day the bright light was too much, noise gave me bad, bad headaches.

I called the doctor's office where I received the 8 injection. My Doctor said not to worry it happens sometime.

Then came Oct 3, 2012 I turned on the ABC nightly news and there it was, an outbreak of fungal meningitis,  if you had injections for pain in your back call your doctor or Health Department . That was the longest night of my life, seconds were hours.

I called my doctor he said I had nothing to worry about. So I called health departments. They said to go to the ER. I did.

I was by myself at home waiting for the results from the spinal tap. One hour later I got the phone call that changed my life forever .I was positive for fungal meningitis and I need to get back to the hospital ASAP. I did.

They started me on the Anti-fungal and that's the last thing I remember. I was in the hospital for 19 days, my kidney stopped and the doctor's told my family they were not sure if I would make it.

I lost a whole year of my life I don't remembered. In that year I was made a grandma and my daddy died of cancer. I'm in pain every day.

I can't have my back surgery because the CDC says the fungal is still in our blood stream. No doctor will see me or talk to me about it.

All of this happened because on man who owned a compounding company got greedy. He only got 8 years in jail and I got a life sentence of pain...But I'm happy to be alive.

Susan Edwards
October 2019