In the ICU, I was kept sedated while the doctors battled my sepsis (multiple organ failure, muscle breakdown etc.) and discovered that the fungus had also spread to my brain. It took nearly a year of taking anti-fungal medicine and regaining strength to get better. Doctors said I had been in “grave” condition.

My recommendations? Before you go on any immunosuppressant, be checked for infections/fungus, get all vaccinations including flu and pneumonia, stop eating raw meats/seafood/eggs, and begin practicing germ avoidance. If you become very ill while on immunosuppressants, your doctor should be suspicious of possible fungal infection and treat with antifungals until the lab results come back.

I have been advised never to take any immunosuppressants, chemo, or prednisone again. Too bad the stronger black box warning by the FDA came one year after I nearly died.