Madison Hurd, center, enjoys prom from her hospital room on April 25. Family, friends and the nursing staff brought the celebration to Children’s Hospital in Omaha after Hurd was diagnosed with sepsis, a life-threatening illness, on April 19.
A sudden case of sepsis landed Milford High School junior Madison Hurd in Children’s Hospital in Omaha more than two weeks ago.
Now, the teen is recovering at home in Seward after an unusual hospital stay.
Madison was diagnosed with the illness on April 19.
Sepsis, also known as septicemia, is the life-threatening result of an infection that causes inflammation of the entire body and can interfere with organ function.
“It presented like a stomach virus,” Catrece Hurd, Madison’s mother, said. “It quickly became noticeable when she passed out from her blood pressure being so low. That’s when I called 911.”
Madison was rushed to the Seward Memorial Hospital that evening, where doctors quickly recognized the illness as sepsis. They transferred her to Children’s Hospital in Omaha in the middle of the night.
“She got so sick so fast,” Catrece said. “The doctor in Seward saved her life. If they had not noticed it right away...another hour and she wouldn’t be here.”
In Madison’s case, the condition led to myocarditis, a problem that impairs the heart’s ability to pump blood. Madison’s left ventricle had been overcome by blood toxins caused by the sepsis-related bacteria.
The illness forced Madison to miss Milford’s prom on April 25 – an event she had spent months planning as vice president of the Student Council and a member of the planning committee.
“She’d been planning on it and looking forward to it. She had written all the invitations,” Madison’s friend and co-planner Anna Ramsdell said.
When Anna found out Madison was in the hospital the Monday before prom, she devised a plan to bring the prom to Madison if she was still sick that Saturday.
When it became evident Madison wouldn’t be coming home for awhile, Anna worked with classmate Mandi Havens, Catrece, Madison’s grandmother and the hospital’s nursing staff to transform Madison’s room into a “Great Gatsby” themed party.
“She didn’t know we were going to do it. She kept saying it was so pretty,” Mandi said. “I think she started crying when she first saw it.”
The nurses came in to help on their day off, bringing Christmas lights and streamers to help decorate. They all signed a card and had cake, snacks and sparkling cider with Madison.
Her boyfriend, Ryan Gomez, traveled from Alabama during the hospital stay, dressing up in a tux and bringing her a corsage to match her dress – a sparkling teal gown she worked a part-time job at a daycare center to pay for.
“She worked so hard. She totally deserved it,” Anna said.
Anna and Mandi were recognized with “Above and Beyond” awards at Milford’s Honors Night on April 30 for their role in the hospital prom, showcasing what true friendship is.
“It was just an act of kindness,” Anna said. “We had to do something for her.”
In the midst of all the tests, heart scans and waiting for results, Catrece said she was thankful for the thoughtfulness of Madison’s friends and the nurses.
“Out of all this, we have a great memory of our time there,” she said.
After more than a week in the hospital’s intensive care unit and additional time under hospital care, Madison returned home on May 4.
She is currently using a wheelchair and a walker, and will begin occupational and physical therapy in Lincoln on Friday, May 8. She will be closely monitored in the coming months by specialists and pediatric cardiologists.
She will continue to deal with the heart condition, taking a lot of medication, Catrece said, possibly for the rest of her life.
“Every day in the hospital is a week’s work of recovery,” Catrece said, meaning Madison has at least four months of therapy ahead of her.
Catrece said sepsis is something anybody can get without warning and that she hopes Madison’s story will create an awareness of the disease.
Madison, who is involved in countless activities at Milford High School, plans to go to college and study medicine.
“She’s a real go-getter,” Catrece said. “Thankfully, the school is very understanding. She’s a very responsible, dedicated and mature girl.”
Madison will not be required to finish her junior year, but Catrece said they will attend school anyway when Madison feels up to it.
A GoFundMe account has been set up online to help the Hurd family with current and future medical expenses. Donations can be made to the account at www.gofundme.com/t3zea2a.
“People look at her and think she looks great on the outside, but inside she has a long way to go,” Catrece said. “She’s here, she’s alive, and that’s what matters.”
