Brookhaven mother loses hands, legs after developing sepsis

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A Brookhaven mother is making huge adjustments after a terrifying illness led to unexpected amputations.

It started in March when Elizabeth Zweigel began with achy, flu-like symptoms. A day-and-a-half later she was in the hospital fighting to live. %

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"It went from bad to really bad. My legs in a lot of pain and hard time breathing," she told Channel 2's Linda Stouffer.

Zweigel had a life-threatening condition called septic shock. Doctors at Northside Hospital told her husband she had a 1 percent chance of survival, and they needed his permission to amputate her hands and legs.

“I felt bad he had to make that choice without me, but it’s really not a choice -- it’s amputate or die,” she said.

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Zweigel says the doctors at Northside Hospital saved her life. After the amputations, she was transferred to the Shepherd Center.

“When I got to Shepherd they gave me life. They gave me tools to take care of myself and kids and my husband,” she said. “I just want to be here to do as much as I can for my family.” %

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Zweigel is now home, which she considers a big victory. She says getting around her home is a challenge and she’s still relearning how to do every day things. But one of the family’s biggest challenges is the medical bills that keep piling up.

Modifications like a lift in the garage and other things to make the house wheelchair accessible are getting more expensive by the day.

As friends work to put together a big tailgate party to raise money for the family, the Zweigels are working to raise awareness about sepsis, where the body has an overwhelming response to an infection.

“Don't wait to go to the hospital because minutes count. Minutes count,” Zweigel said.

She says she hopes her children also learn from all she’s been through.

“I want them to know that they can get through anything,” she said.

The community is holding an event on Sept. 1 to raise money for Zweigel's family to pay for medical bills.

Cox Media Group