Sarah Kempinska’s Wedding Journey: From Coma to Celebration
Sarah Kempinska had spent two years meticulously planning her dream wedding. However, the week of the event was overshadowed by uncertainty, as Sarah found herself unconscious in a London, Ont., hospital.
A Long Recovery from Surgery
Sarah, who suffers from Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, an autoimmune condition affecting her lungs and airways, had undergone routine surgeries to remove growths in her airways. Typically, these surgeries resulted in same-day discharge. However, this time, complications arose, leaving Sarah struggling to breathe.
On May 23, she was admitted to the emergency department at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). As her condition worsened, she was taken to the operating room and eventually placed in a medically-induced coma.
Wedding Plans Hang in the Balance
Meanwhile, Sarah’s wedding day was fast approaching on June 3. Unbeknownst to her, her fiancé Jim Kelly, a radio personality, took charge of contacting vendors and handling the wedding preparations while she lay unconscious, using her fingerprint to access her phone and assorted wedding details.
An Extraordinary Team at the Hospital
As Sarah fought for her health, the hospital staff at LHSC went above and beyond to give her the opportunity to walk down the aisle. They braided her hair to prevent matting, carefully placed a central line to avoid interfering with her dress, and even wrote her a heartfelt letter, to be opened on her wedding day.
One staff member, Anna Kempinska, Sarah’s sister and an emergency department physician at LHSC, played a crucial role in explaining the complex medical information to their family. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the wedding, Sarah’s health remained the priority for everyone involved.
A Miraculous Recovery and Wedding
Just four days before the scheduled wedding, Sarah emerged from her coma. Although weak and using a walker, she was determined to marry Jim. The couple considered alternative dates due to the uncertainty, but ultimately decided that their love and commitment were more important than the circumstances.
A Joyous Celebration
On May 30, Sarah was discharged from the hospital, and on June 3, she walked down the aisle with some assistance. Despite the challenges she had faced, she and Jim had a beautiful wedding celebration, filled with love and support from their family and friends.
A Lesson Learned
Looking back, it is believed that the impact of Sarah’s disease was more severe than initially thought, and her medications may not have been as effective as they should have been. Going forward, London Health Sciences Centre plans to explore better medical control to minimize the risk of complications in future surgeries.
A Grateful and Happily Married Sarah
Though there is no cure for her condition, Sarah is grateful to have dedicated medical teams monitoring her health. After successfully completing another treatment, she now enjoys her married life and feels optimistic about the future.
“It’s been kind of a miracle looking back at how it all went down,” Sarah reflects.
