'Perfect storm': Woman hospitalized for kidney stone loses both legs

Doctors found an infection, which forced them to amputate Cindy Mullins' limbs.

Mullins has been with her husband since she was 17 and has two boys, ages 12 and 7. She is also a passionate healthcare worker.

"I was a nurse at a doctor's office, I'd been at the same place for 17 years," Mullins said. "Those are things I'm going to miss, clearly, about my life."

Mullins' life recently changed forever in a way no one could've seen coming.

Mullins described what happened to her because of a kidney stone as "quite rare" and "just a perfect storm."

The kidney stone caused an infection, making her septic.

Mullins was rushed to UK Hospital in Lexington, where she was sedated for days. When she finally woke up, her legs were gone.

"At that point, I've lost my legs from the knees down bilaterally and I'm going to lose my arms probably below the elbow bilaterally," Mullins said.

She has stayed surprisingly optimistic.

"I just said, these are the cards I've been dealt, and these are the hands I'm going to play," Mullins said. "I'm just so happy to be alive. I get to see my kids. I get to see my family. I get to have my time with my husband. Those are minor things at this point."

Mullins said the major takeaway for her is how many people have shown their support since her surgery.

Roughly $60,000 has been raised to help her family through the curveball.

"At one time I think they told me 40 people were in the waiting room," Mullins said. "The calls and the texts, the prayers and the things people have sent, the little words of encouragement ... I just can't fathom that people are doing things like that for me."

Mullins is now taking her new life in stride with friends, family and strangers who are ready to support her in any way they can.

"Slow down," she said. "Appreciate the things around you, especially your family. It's okay to let people take care of you. If one person can see God from all this, that made it all worth it."