Coming back from sepsis: Zack's story
Zack Parrish continues to achieve recovery milestones with help from the TriStar Health network.
When you look at Zack Parrish today, one could not begin to imagine how ill he was when he first arrived at TriStar Centennial. This past January, Zack, 34 from Hendersonville had a wisdom tooth removed. “I thought it was just a routine dental appointment and next thing I know I was in the hospital,” said Zack. Within 3 days of the dental procedure, he was lethargic and experiencing chest pains. His girlfriend knew something wasn’t right and called 911. Upon arrival to TriStar Hendersonville, it was determined he was in septic shock and immediately needed a higher level of care. Zack wishes he could recall the helicopter ride to Centennial, but that is still a blur to him. After treating his sepsis, and two months later, Zack was ready to begin the difficult road ahead to regain his strength and move closer to full independence and his active lifestyle. “I never thought it could be sepsis,” continued Zack.
Erfan Izadi, Director of Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab helped facilitate Zack being admitted into the inpatient rehab center at TriStar Southern Hills, for three weeks. “Once he was discharged from inpatient medical care, we were excited to have him see us for his outpatient rehab," said Izadi.
“When Zack first started, he was in a wheelchair. His range of motion was very limited and suffered from a frozen shoulder. The therapy team promised him he would be walking by Christmas. With his determination and dedication to therapy, he should be running by Christmas,” said Izadi.
“The team here is like family to me. I’ll miss my therapist when I finish treatment,” says Zack. “We have seen Zack’s personality really shine,” says Abby, his Occupational Therapist. “It is so rewarding to see a patient’s personality blossom as they reach therapy milestones in their rehab journey.”
Sepsis is an overwhelming infection of the blood that can lead to severe organ failure and even death. This condition requires fast recognition and treatment. With the rapid response of Zack’s medical providers, and his determination, Zack is well on his way to recovery.