Following a life-threatening infection, emergency hysterectomy and more than a dozen procedures, coordinated care at UW Health helped Courtney heal physically and emotionally and reclaim her life with a growing family.
When Courtney first met UW Health urogynecologist Frank Lin, she was terrified of doctors. She had survived an emergency C-section, hysterectomy and infection that nearly took her life, but she was left with severe urinary tract injuries, profound emotional trauma and little hope for the future.
Today, thanks to the expertise and compassion of Dr. Lin and the Integrated Specialty Care for Women team, Courtney is rebuilding her life and rediscovering joy as a mom.
A joyful beginning turns into a medical crisis
On April 30, 2025, Courtney and her husband welcomed their first child. Within days, that joyful milestone became a medical crisis.
Following an emergency C-section, Courtney developed a very rare and serious bacterial infection: necrotizing fasciitis, the “flesh-eating disease.” She returned to the birthing hospital, delirious with a 104-degree fever. An emergency hysterectomy was the only option to save her life.
Rare complications from surgery caused significant damage to her bladder and ureter, disrupting the normal flow of urine and setting the stage for months of additional procedures and recovery. Because of the severity of her infection, Courtney was placed in a medically induced coma and transferred to the intensive care unit at UW Health University Hospital.
She regained consciousness five days later, wondering if she was going to die, devastated to learn she couldn’t have more children.
Finding hope
While it would be an excruciating, long recovery, Courtney met the first of many people at UW Health who would help her heal physically and emotionally.
“When I woke up at UW Health, I had the most incredible ICU nurses,” Courtney said. “One nurse sat with me for hours and helped me process what had happened.”
Dr. Lin, an expert in treating pelvic floor disorders and complex reconstructive surgery for urinary tract repairs, also had a plan. But Courtney needed time to heal.
“Repairs are more likely to fail while someone is actively fighting infection or recovering from a life-threatening illness,” shared Dr. Lin. “If we do surgery too soon, patients can become even sicker.”
Courtney felt the first glimmer of hope on her birthday, May 17, when she was transferred out of the ICU and received the best gift: a surprise visit from her infant son.
“Holding him was everything,” Courtney said. “I remember telling my mom and husband that the only reason I was fighting to stay alive was for him.”
Building the right team
When Courtney met Dr. Lin that August, she had a nephrostomy tube to drain her kidney; she was leaking urine and wearing diapers. She felt terrified and traumatized, but it was a turning point.
“He was cheerful and kind. He was knowledgeable about what had happened. He wasn't asking me to relive it all. He just knew,” Courtney recalled. “He said, ‘I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm going to do the best I can to help you and get you back to normal.’ For someone who had gone through so much trauma and had lost trust in the medical system, hearing that meant everything.”
The surgeries to repair her bladder and ureter would be exceptionally complex, and Dr. Lin knew it was critical to assemble the right team. Integrated Specialty Care for Women specialists across urogynecology, obstetrics, physical therapy and other disciplines regularly review complex cases together, ensuring patients benefit from a coordinated treatment plan.
Because Courtney had already undergone multiple abdominal surgeries and faced a high risk of scar tissue, Dr. Lin assembled a surgical team including UW Health urogynecologist Sarah McAchran, colorectal surgeon Ana De Roo, and later, hernia specialist Victoria Rendell.
“The first attempt at reconstruction is often your best opportunity to fix the problem, so you want to stack the deck in the patient's favor with the strongest possible team," said Dr. Lin.
Feeling seen and supported
Dr. Lin helped coordinate care across specialties while making sure Courtney felt seen as a person beyond her medical condition. She said each member of her care team came to her appointments prepared. They understood her history, her goals and what mattered most to her.
With support from Dr. Lin, the Integrated Specialty Care for Women team and a birth trauma therapist recommended by female pelvic medicine specialist Caroline Cox, Courtney gradually regained her confidence and sense of self.
“After everything I went through, it was hard to even feel like a mom,” she said. “But after a very long year, I'm finally starting to see that life can be normal again.”
After a grueling physical and emotional recovery in which every doctor's appointment triggered a panic attack, she reached a significant milestone in July 2026: attending an appointment at University Hospital on her own.
A future beyond the trauma
"UW Health saved my life and has done such tremendous things for me, and my therapist is making sure my mental health is being taken care of," she said.
Now, her focus is on the future and the little boy who inspired her to keep fighting.
"My son was the sweetest, easiest baby. Now he's a fearless little boy who gets into everything and keeps us on our toes," Courtney said. "I'm so thankful the care I received allowed me to be here to watch him grow and to truly enjoy being his mom."