We all have skipped things. In my life, I have skipped past a song, I have skipped past a commercial. I have skipped past the credits to get to the end. But never in my life did I ever expect to skip past death as I fought a bacterial infection that was killing my body and trying to take my life.
It all started with what I thought was a cold. Several people around me had just gotten over a cold and said that it would take me a couple of weeks to feel better. I figured it sounded like typical cold information and proceeded with my life as I would on any other occasion.
I went on about my business like nothing was wrong. I had a cough and some fatigue, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I kept myself on DayQuil and Nitequil, and occasionally would take other medications for my cold, and I kept my day moving. After several days, I began to lose my appetite.
Losing my appetite had never happened to me before. And it was not included in the list of my typical cold symptoms. But I did not get alarmed because I started to feel better a couple of days later. But then I started to cough so much that I could not keep any food down.
I could not sleep while lying down. The coughing got so bad that I coughed all the time. It was so deep that if I drank or ate anything, the coughing would bring it back up. This is not a cold. This is something else. I started to mention to my family and friends that I felt like I had something else.
As we all started to assess my symptoms, I turned up the aggression in dealing with my sickness. I finished the magazine for June and went to bed for three days. That did not help. I went to the YMCA and sat in the sauna to sweat it out, but that did not help.
I finally went to the doctor on a Monday morning, and they tested me for COVID and Influenza. I had neither. After the visit, they told me I had a bacterial infection in my lungs and prescribed an antibiotic. I started to take the pills. Over the next few days, I began to feel better.
That Wednesday, I went to Walmart to pick up a couple of items. As I walked back to the car I was so fatigued that it took me 20 minutes to get enough energy to drive home. That night I reached out to my family and a few friends to let them know that something was definitely wrong.
By Thursday, my shoe would not fit on my right foot, and it doubled in size. I called my business partner, Bilal Akram, on Thursday night, and he agreed to take me back to the doctor on Friday morning. We went back to the doctor, and as we walked into the doctor’s office and they saw my foot, and they immediately suggested that I go to the ER.
I could not walk. Bilal found a wheelchair, and we went to the ER. Once I was at the Metro ER, a low-level doctor came in and started to ask us some questions. He left, and a higher-level doctor came in.
He left, and then five doctors came into the room.
“Mr. Bowling, you are the most popular person in our ER right now. We have determined, after some tests, that you have a bacterial infection that is attacking your body.” The doctor continued, “After looking at your foot, I am sad to tell you that the infection is in your foot and we might have to amputate it.”
I was scared out of my mind. I came in with an aggressive cold. Not this. We rushed all over for all kinds of tests, X-rays, CT scans, and blood work. I was moved to a different room. Finally, the five doctors came back in and said that they were going to rush me into surgery to remove my leg to my knee and then begin an aggressive campaign of antibiotics to kill the infection.
I panicked and called everyone who was important to me. Within two hours of getting to the ER, I was being rolled into surgery. No long conversations, no explanations, no detailed understanding of what in the world is going on. I have something bad, and they are going to attack it.
I woke up three hours later in a hospital room surrounded by family. It was a Friday afternoon, and my life had changed forever. I really did not wake up from the pain medications until Sunday. After Sunday, I started to get visits from several departments of the hospital. My surgeon stopped by.
The operation was a success. Everything went well.
Infectious diseases came to see me.
“Mr. Bowling, you had two bacteria attacking your body. They had trouble identifying one, so we were called in to help. We have you on a cocktail of antibiotics to kill the infection. Technically, if you had waited two more days to come into the ER, you might have died,” The doctor from the CDC said.
So I lay there for 7 days with Antibiotics being delivered into my IV non-stop. My right foot was amputated, but I am still open to making sure that any remaining infection is killed. As each day passed, I became more aware of my situation, and my range of emotions rolled like a kid on a rollercoaster.
One minute, I was in disbelief; the next, I was mad at myself for being in this position. Next, I was sad for where I caught the bacterial infection. And of course, my health could be better. The suggestion to take something to get my blood sugar under control was advise,d and I gladly did it.
By next Friday, I was told that the entire infection would be killed and that they would close the wound and begin the process of getting me physical therapy and back to life in four to six months.
That life includes a prosthetic foot, losing 20 pounds, and watching what I eat. It also includes learning how to walk and work to find a new golf swing.
But it also includes a new lease on life. It is a reminder that our time on the planet can end at any moment, and if you have something to accomplish, do not hesitate to do it.
My family, friends, associates, and fraternity brothers have been amazing in supporting me mentally and physically. I share my story to hopefully help the next person who deals with a sudden life-altering experience.
While it may be overwhelming to go through something so traumatic, in the end, the fact that I am still here is amazing in itself, and I will never forget that.
I have also been reminded that skipping things all the time may not be the best way to save time. Not skipping things might give me a better quality of life by slowing down and enjoying everything that life has to offer.
I cannot understand why this happened to me, but the lesson is not in understanding it; the lesson is figuring out who I want to be going forward and living in that purpose. I thank you and everyone who gave me their prayers. Much appreciated.
