Woman lost both legs just weeks after developing a minor cough at a wedding

A woman had both of her legs amputated after having a "severe" cough at her cousin's wedding.

The coughs came to a point where Denise couldn’t lay down without having respiratory issues. 

However, her cough and respiration issues eased off the following days, but started immediately after her return home to Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The story unfolds as she went to get checked by her doctor, who did not take the cough seriously.

Denise says the doctor said: “okay let's just do a test for influenza.”

"It came back positive for influenza A,” said the 52 year old woman.

“The doctors said calmly, 'well, hey, let's have an ambulance come to get you to take you to the emergency room for further tests'.

"He doesn't tell me I'm in any kind of respiratory distress,” says Denise. “Once the ambulance came, I remember nothing else until roughly 40 days later."

After being admitted at St Rose Dominican Hospital, her family was notified, at which time her Brother, David, came to be by her bedside.

By the time he had arrived at the hospital, Dneise was intubated after having gone into septic shock from sepsis.

The hospital staff quickly informed David that the medication she was on could potentially cut all circulation to her extremities, including her feet, turning them black in the process. 

Merely a couple of weeks later, doctors discussed with Denise’s mother about the possibility of taking her off life-support.

"Thank God she said 'no, let's keep her on life support'," said the 52 year old patient.

"They had tested for brain activity and all that good stuff and were saying I should be okay, but couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be issues.

“Had she said no, I wouldn't be here right now."

Denise woke up from her coma just three days after Denise’s mother said ‘no’.

After her release, Denise was scheduled for a double amputation, as her feet had been described as mummified from a lack of circulation to her extremities.

"Luckily I've been blessed to be recovering,” she said. “Mentally I am stronger than I've ever been.

“My mental capacity came back pretty good, but I did have some memory loss.

"I also had physical therapy and have started learning how to walk again. Now I'm in my below-the-knee prosthetics, and I can walk aided.”

Denise unfortunately lost her job during this period, which was magnified by the loss of her 13 year old dog.

Without proper health insurance, her physical therapy had to be halted.

However, Denise has not shown any sign of giving up as she maintains a high standard of living and a positive outlook on life despite the hardship she suffered over the summer. 

"Of course I saw my legs were gone, but it felt like I was a miracle and that was a bit of a sacrifice that was given,” said Denise.

"Over the course of the next 30 days my feet died and became mummified and all while I was in a coma.

“I'm out here kicking ass, I'm not lying down and not sitting in misery.

“There's the saying 'life or limb' and mine was life."