I almost died part II

I'm doing much better. I'm down to 2 tubes now. An IV, to keep my central line from clotting as only 1 of the 2 tubes are working, and my wound vac. I've learned a little more about my first day here. There's a rumor that I coded after surgery but I haven't seen my chart yet. I know I lost consciousness in the ER because my blood pressure dropped so they had to wait 3 hrs before they could get my bp high enough for surgery. They had to cut out a lot of chest muscle and nerve. Part of my chest is numb because of the nerve loss. It should close well though and I'm so glad to be alive. My boyfriend was wonderful. He helped the nurses with sponge baths, slept on the floor in the icu, and helps me in any way he can. If he's not working he's taking care of the dogs or he's here. My runner mentality is helping me a lot. Now walking is a bit of a challenge. The infection made me lose a lot of muscle in the fight. I walk laps around the halls every hour now to try to gain my muscle back. I did hear some amazing news the other day though. They found the name for my mystery illness and it isn't cancer. It was toxoplasmosis. Apparently a lot of athletes get it and my apartment complex had a really bad stray cat problem. Its a parasite that comes mostly from stray cats. I must have picked it up when I got a really bad stomach flu as your immune system has to be compromised in order to get it. It attacks the nerves in your brain causing all of my neurological symptoms. The antibiotics that fight the infection also kills the parasite. One of my nurses jokes that my body doesn't follow the rules. I contracted a semi rare parasite and a very rare form of infection all within 3 months. The affects from the toxoplasmosis should dissipate in a month to a year and if I get physical therapy I should regain most of my range of motion in my shoulder. I'll have to get blood tests to make sure the antibiotic is working and a heart check up every so often because my incredibly healthy heart just experienced the beginning stages of heart failure a week ago. I should be back to normal in no time. Might be a bit before I do my half marathon but it'll happen. All in all this was a pretty awesome christmas. It was spent in my hospital room, just me and my boyfriend, over hospital food and take out from a little cafe that was open. I wouldn't have had it any other way. My boyfriend has never had a good christmas but I promised him a good one and he said it was his favorite so far but made me promise next year it wouldn't involve a hospital. I think it sounds like a deal lol. I should be getting released on monday and I should be back to work in 2 weeks. I've learned so much from all of this and you are all amazing people. Instead of getting my crap jobs back and working 90 hrs a week with no benefits I'm working on getting a hospital job when I get the all clear. Then I'll work that full time making good pay + benefits, doing the nanny thing when I feel like it, and living life with all my free time. I'm getting back in school as soon as it all settles down and I have So much work and SO much life ahead of me. I should have died. The infection starts shutting down organs within 24 hrs and I made it 35 hrs before they could do anything. Apparently my life has a very important purpose and I don't plan on taking it for granted. Its frustrating to be out of breath after a walk around the floor but every step I get to take is a miracle. I hope you all the best of luck and I plan to stick around for support. I don't have cancer but I know what it feels like to be told its probable and I know what almost dead feels like. Best of luck both here and beyond. If anything else happens with my current situation I'll let you know. Thank you for making me feel welcome when my world was crashing down. It helped me stay positive.