“They Saved My Life” – Kathy Thanks Northwest Medical Center’s Staff for Quick, Outstanding Care
2/12/2025
Kathy came to Northwest Medical Center’s emergency department last December after her dog found her unconscious on the bathroom floor.
“I thought I had a bad flu,” Kathy remembers. “I was crying with no tears because I was so dehydrated – but I didn’t know how sick I was.”
As it turned out, she was very sick. Kathy lives with type 2 diabetes, and she had gone into ketoacidosis – a medical emergency in which a person’s blood glucose, or sugar, level becomes dangerously high. This can cause flu-like symptoms and a severe loss of magnesium and potassium in the body. Eventually, ketoacidosis can lead to coma, and even death.
The normal blood sugar level for an adult is about 70-100 mg/DL. Kathy’s had shot up into the 600s.
“The conscientious, kind staff at NMC instantly knew what was wrong,” Kathy remembers. “I went from the ER to upstairs in about six minutes. – and a brilliant person in administration arranged a prior authorization with my insurance the same day, so I wasn’t worried about the cost of my care.”
Kathy spent two nights in the ICU, receiving fluids and medication to help her body stabilize.
“I had a great, great night nurse who stayed with me for hours,” she says. “Within 24 hours, I was so much better. NMC was awesome – an excellent place from start to finish. Every single day, I will thank God for Northwest Medical Center. Their ICU nurses are top-notch…they saved my life.”
Kathy is now back to normal life – which means enjoying the great weather outdoors with her husband at their grandson’s youth football game!
To learn more about Northwest’s ICU units, visit https://www.healthiertucson.com/critical-care-medicine.
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