In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 41-year-old mother from San Diego has found her life forever altered after a routine heart checkup spiraled into a life-threatening emergency. Leslie Caoili, a competitive strength athlete, faced unimaginable challenges when doctors discovered a severe Type A aortic dissection, a critical tear in her main artery.
The 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 diagnosis came in May, prompting immediate surgery to save her life. Her husband, Amery Lee Caoili, revealed to ABC that doctors warned she had only hours to live without urgent intervention. The mother of two had been thriving in her athletic pursuits across San Diego, but her world turned upside down in an instant.
Following the extensive surgery, the family hoped for a positive recovery. However, Leslie faced severe complications that led to a tragic loss of blood circulation in her limbs. “We didn’t really know how her body was gonna respond to the initial surgery,” Amery shared.
Unfortunately, within weeks, her hands and feet began to blacken and shrivel, a devastating sign of the challenges ahead.
As her condition worsened, doctors had no choice but to perform amputations on both her arms and legs. After months in the hospital, Leslie is now on the brink of returning home, but the family’s house is not equipped for her new needs. Amery is reaching out to skilled volunteers—electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, flooring installers, and painters—to help transform their home into a safe and accessible space for Leslie.
“She just wants to come home to her family and her kids and her dog and me and wants to get back to living life as normal as we can make it for her,” he expressed, highlighting the family’s desire to create a supportive environment. To assist with the financial burden of these modifications, they have set up a GoFundMe campaign.
As the Caoili family prepares for Leslie’s return, they face the daunting task of adapting to a new normal. What will this brave mother’s journey look like as she navigates life after such a profound change?
