One week before her prom, Amy almost died. She was young, healthy and talented. But one day her stomach swelled up. A doctor said it was just gas. But when her pain got worse every second and Amy collapsed, her life was suddenly in danger. Her stomach exploded, she needed 122 blood transfusions and was operated more than 25 times. To this day, doctors do not know what made her stomach explode.
Photo: facebook / AmyOestricher
After an emergency surgery, Amy was in a coma for several months. Her family did not leave her side. Amy loves acting, music and dance. Before her stomach exploded, she wanted to become an actress. That is why the three brothers play songs with the guitar during the coma. At some point, Amy awakens. But the horror begins first.
"You do not have a stomach anymore, and you can not eat or drink, " a young, nervous doctor told her when she woke up. A life without food. How should that work? Amy is fed artificially. But she is hungry. Looks people eat. Pure torture. But if she would eat a piece of pizza or drink a sip of water, that would be suicide. Because where other people have a stomach, Amy is nothing. Any food would poison her system.
Amy with her mother in the hospital
After leaving hospital, Amy barely leaves her room. Speaks only with her family and her doctors. After a year then the turnaround: She sees an audition for a musical. And she sings. And is taken. That changes her life. She draws hope again.
But she still can not eat. After dozens of surgeries then the breakthrough. Amy can eat solid food for the first time after 3 years. She eats a piece of waffle. "Nobody can imagine what it's like to chew after three years, " explains Amy. Again and again there are periods when she can not eat or drink at all. But she manages to hold on somehow.
And that's worth it. Amy returns to college at age 25 and meets her husband Brandon through a dating portal. After only three months, he made her an application. After years of loss and abandonment, Amy is now a young woman who has made her dream of acting true and has never given up despite her fate. Bravo, Amy!
