Blog 5: Mommy Warrior

Mommy Warrior

Monica Jorge is an inspiration for us all. She has undergone 37 surgeries, has lost four limbs and multiple organs, continuous rehabilitation, a new baby, and a wedding. Monica was diagnosed with “necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating bacteria” after having a C-section with her second child (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). She began to develop a serve fever that would not go away. She was then flown to a hospital in Boston where doctors had to remove Monica’s ovaries, uterus, gallbladder, and part of her colon within that same day.

One would expect a person going through such a traumatic and painful situation to want to give up, well Monica fought through it all. Her infection “restricted the blood flow to her arms and legs” and the only option left to save her life would be to amputate all four limbs (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). With such devastating news, Monica was willing to face the disease and stated: "I needed to know what I was up against. I didn't want to be shielded anymore" (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.).

Monica was very afraid when she learned the news that doctors had to amputate both legs and arms. She was willing to fight against all odds and go home to her wonderful daughters and fiancé Tony.   She thought, “have a life to live and it's not here [hospital], and until you amputate, I can't move forward." (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). She is a very courageous woman!

She spent approximately two months in the hospital and married Tony in the hospital chapel in October 2007 (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). She was determined to go home as soon as possible and gave her all during rehabilitation. She was determined to walk again. She pushed through it all and was able to reunite with her family at her home. She stated that she would have breakdowns and states, “I did have moments of 'If God just left me one arm or one leg, life would be a little bit easier,' but that's not the way it went, you make do with what you have. I could still love my girls. The bottom line was I am still here." (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.).

She is a ‘Mommy Warrior’ and defiantly an inspiration to us all. She took the negative and made it into a positive for the betterment of her daughters and family, She thanks all her family, friends, rehabilitation faculty, and doctors for being there for her through such a life changing event.

Words from Monica: "I've come to the realization that things are as they are, and you have to move forward. Life goes on. There's no sense dwelling on it—that just hurts too much and you don't live your life the way you want to. And with a wonderful husband and two great girls, life is fun." (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.).

 

 

References

Meet a Mother Warrior  (n.d.). Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Retrieved from http://www.oprah.com/relationships/Meet-a-Mother-Warrior/2