Lois Kinder suddenly fell ill and collapsed on the couch after taking a popular supplement, leaving her with brain damage.
The British mom-of-two had reportedly noticed her eyes turning yellow in the days before she suddenly collapsed. Before it happened, she reportedly seemed “fit and healthy.”
The supplement she was taking was something she had first stumbled upon on social media: ashwagandha gummies, an Asian herb believed to possibly reduce anxiety and help manage stress.
She started taking them hoping they might help her “overall wellbeing,” beginning with two gummies every day. But unfortunately, instead of feeling better, she soon began experiencing severe health issues.
In July, after being rushed to the hospital, doctors confirmed she had acute liver failure. She underwent a liver transplant but tragically was left with brain damage after suffering cardiac arrest during the operation.
Ashwagandha side effects
Now, her husband, Ollie, wants to raise awareness and warn others.
He said: “The thought of losing my wife, and of our children, Imogen and Jacob, losing their mum at just 44 years old, was unbearable,” according to LADbible.
“Watching the person you love fight for their life is something no family can ever prepare for.
“When the doctors ran tests, one of the first things they asked us was if she was taking pills containing ashwagandha, which they later said they believed had caused the liver problems.
“They said there have only been 70 cases of livers failing following prolonged use of the pills.
“I want to spread awareness and warn people that even if you think the supplement you are taking is safe, there can still be serious health consequences.”
Doctors reportedly told him that his wife’s liver failure was likely caused by the supplement.
Her husband said: “The number of times we have been told we are going to lose her and then she just defies the odds.
“Doctors thought she was brain dead and put a do-not-resuscitate order on her.
“The days that followed were filled with fear, uncertainty and heartbreak.
“But by some miracle she woke up.
“Doctors brought in a retired neurological specialist to figure out why she is awake as scans showed otherwise – but they can’t give any answers.”
“We will continue to fight alongside her”
For the family, what happens next is still uncertain.
He said: “The medical team caring for Lois have told us that her case is so rare and medically complex that they intend to publish it as a case study in medical journals to help healthcare professionals around the world learn from the extraordinary challenges they faced while saving her life.
“At this stage, nobody knows what her recovery will look like.
“We don’t know if she will walk again, regain full use of her body, or what level of care she will need in the future.
“What we do know is that Lois has already shown incredible strength, and we will continue to fight alongside her every step of the way.”
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