2023-December-14
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Against All Odds: My Miraculous Journey of Recovery
BY JOHN MARCHIANDO · SALES SPECIALIST · UNITED STATES
WITH HELEN GALL
3 MINUTE READ · 5 MINUTE LISTEN
In June 2023, I was excited to attend Cisco Live in Las Vegas.
It was my first in-person Cisco event since joining Cisco in July 2020 through the Fluidmesh Networks acquisition. The event was truly amazing — filled with opportunities to meet with various individuals and witness impressive demonstrations.
However, on my journey back home, I began experiencing back pain, a sore throat, and a cough. Initially, I thought it was just a common cold and started taking over-the-counter medication.
Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse over the weekend. I started having difficulty breathing while lying on my left side. I realized it was more serious than a cold, and I immediately drove to urgent care.
They deemed me too ill to be treated there and insisted I go to the emergency room. It turned out I had developed a strep infection that had entered my bloodstream, leading to bilateral pneumonia, sepsis, toxic shock, and kidney and liver failure.
My wife and three children made it to the hospital to see me, but I was placed on a ventilator and my condition became critical. It was touch and go for the first 48 hours.
I was eventually transferred to another hospital about 45 minutes away in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was placed in the ICU, where I was put into a medically-induced coma for 21 days to let my body recover.
The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital over a month later. While I managed to send a text to my boss about being in the hospital, I have no recollection of doing so.
My wife, Becky, was in constant — almost daily — contact with my manager, who worked with the HR team at Cisco to ensure I received the necessary support, including family and medical leave and short-term disability. This was key to allowing my family to focus on me and help the doctors guide my care.
The team who manages disability for Cisco was incredibly responsive and helpful throughout the process.
While I was in the ICU, my wife and son stayed in a facility near the hospital that accommodated families of critically ill patients, allowing them to be by my side every day without the added stress of commuting.
My wife and son were unwavering in their support, never missing a day, while my daughters also made every effort to be there as much as possible. Their dedication was truly incredible.
By July 17, I was transferred to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, where I underwent three weeks of inpatient therapy. The rehabilitation team pushed me in physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help me regain my independence.
I had to relearn basic skills such as walking and talking. And I also faced challenges with my hands and fine motor skills. But with outpatient therapy, I made significant improvements since leaving the hospital and was discharged on August 4.
Cisco was there every step of the way, and I felt cared for and valued during my time away.
Colleagues reached out to me through text messages, letting me know they were thinking of me and praying for my recovery. While my physical fitness certainly contributed to my ability to overcome these challenges, I am convinced their support and positive energy played a significant role in my journey towards healing.
The combination of continuous dialysis, sepsis, and pneumonia is something most individuals would not survive. My doctors shared that, given the severity of my initial conditions, it is a miracle that I am alive today.
On October 2, I returned to work, determined to use the gift of life I received to inspire others and encourage them to never give up.
Since my return, I have received numerous messages from the IoT leadership team and had many meaningful conversations with coworkers about my extraordinary experience.
Sharing my story has been therapeutic for me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.
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