Chad Wenrich never imagined waking up to a life he no longer recognized.
What began as the flu progressed into bacterial pneumonia and then a severe bloodstream infection. As sepsis threatened his life, he was placed on advanced life support. The measures that kept him alive also left permanent consequences: the loss of his fingers and significant portions of both feet.
When Chad awoke after the amputations, his hands and feet were heavily bandaged, and the pain was overwhelming. His first questions were simple: “Is it over?” and “Did I make it?”
He had survived, but survival was only the beginning. For weeks, Chad could not feed himself, hold a drink, or complete the most basic daily tasks without assistance. Eventually, he had to learn how to use his hands differently and how to walk again on feet that had been dramatically altered.
The physical loss came amid years of personal grief, including the deaths of his father, grandparents, and mother. He also lost relationships and much of the life he had known. At 41, Chad found himself trying to assemble the remaining pieces and determine what his new life might become.
There are still difficult days, but Chad continues moving forward. He holds tightly to his faith and to the belief that there is a reason he survived. He did not choose this path, but step by step, he is learning to walk it—and becoming the person he believes he was meant to be.