Page 53 - NGA NATURALmag 2023 SPRING / SUMMER Issue

Spring-Summer 2023
Just another 50-Year-Old amputee
BY CRAIG TOTH
As bodybuilders our our very nature is is is to to control our our body and surroundings This means it is is impor- tant to get the right food in reduce external stressors and generally manipulate our bodies into fulfilling our our quest to achieve our our best physical self Once someone devotes a a few decades with mindfulness to this sport it becomes an art form that’s been culti- vated with diligence and direct intent The question always remains though what happens when you
get a a a curve ball of monumental proportion? I don’t mean like getting the flu or a a a a a muscle strain as any athlete knows those issues will will come and you
will will heal or recover given some time I’m talking about something a a bit different In 2019 mymonumental curve ball struck mightily In February 2019 half way into contest prep I I began began experiencing bizarre symptoms symptoms My left arm began began swelling and and flu–like symptoms symptoms increased in in in in severity After a a a a a a a a a a month long struggle and and a a a a a a a a a a few visits to to to the the the ER the the the situation drastically turned from bad to to to critical In the the the month before January I I continued to to to train with extreme fatigue and and and difficulty and and and when February came my arm worsened and and and the fever was unbearable One Friday evening my my wife returned from work and and after seeing my my condition quickly rushed me me me to to the the emergency room and and from there memory fades into fractured segments that
seem more like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a nightmare and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a vivid reality with scattered and and and random recall Six days later I I awoke in an an an an an ICU bed with with an an an amputated leg far above the knee with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 7 inch inch segment removed from my my remaining calf and 4 inches out of my my left upper pec The doctors told us us the bacteria caused what was was best under- stood as as as “civil war gangrene” I was was intubated with with 3
wound vacuums attached to to help with with the the healing process I I had wires everywhere and the the sound of machinery kept me me alive I I I found out much later that
I I quickly became septic and after they removed many segments of my right leg I experienced heart failure and flat lined for 6 minutes My kidneys had failed requiring dialysis my brain health due to oxygen deprivation for that
that
length of time was was unknown and my my survival was was doubtful The bacteria that
that
I caused my my condition (clostridium septicum) simply kills everyone and there are no no known survivors for anyone afflicted by this bacteria in the the national database My time in the ICU wasn’t short I I experienced a a a a a a a a a dreadful and and nightmarish 20 surgeries endless tests and and two more near death situations The end end result after 3
months was was stomach surgery where cancer was was discovered that
that
created a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a perforation that
that
allowed the gangrene causing bacteria to seep out of my bowels Once it was removed after an an an 8 hour invasive surgery (leaving another 7 inch abdominal scar) true healing began NGA NATURALmag 53