From the outside, 24-year-old Lexi Theis looked like a picture of health.
A nursing student at Bemidji State University, she also worked as an aide at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. When she wasn’t in class or at work, she was outside enjoying the beauty of Northern Minnesota. Whether it was hiking the trails around the Movil Maze recreation area or kayaking with her dog, Gertrude, Lexi loved to be active. She loved to be moving. And she loved adventuring.
So when she started having unexplained leg pain, she knew something wasn’t right.
“I had gone to the walk-in clinic and they sent me to the vascular clinic for an ultrasound of my legs to check for blood clots. They didn’t find anything, but I just continued to have these really intense leg cramps for months.”
Lexi refused to be sidelined by the pain. She stayed active and was hopeful the cramps would eventually subside — until one afternoon in January.
What happened next changed Lexi forever. Now, she’s sharing her story to raise awareness for the importance of lifesaving emergency care in Bemidji — and to inspire support for a new project that will ensure every patient has access to the right care at the right time when it matters most.
When Everything Went Black
After waking up from an afternoon nap, Lexi felt out-of-sorts.
“I just felt like my whole body was panicked. My brain was calm, but I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe enough to walk. I remember sitting down and saying, ‘I can’t see.’ Everything was just black.”
Lexi eventually lost consciousness and her boyfriend called 911.
“I don’t remember anything from the ambulance ride. I just remember not being able to see or breathe.”
When she arrived at the Emergency Department at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, Lexi was in critical condition. Her blood pressure and oxygen levels were dangerously low while her blood sugar was dangerously high.
Things quickly went from bad to worse. Her heart rate stopped and medical staff quickly began administering CPR. She was intubated to help her breathe and was given medication to help stabilize her condition.
Tests soon revealed that Lexi’s plunging oxygen levels were caused by multiple blood clots in her lungs and legs.
Doctors had identified the problem, but the damage was already extensive. Her poor oxygen levels had put tremendous stress on her other organs and her condition continued to deteriorate.
“My liver to tried to fail. My kidneys tried to fail. My bladder was bleeding. It was just a whole cascade of problems because that cutoff of oxygen was so long. They actually told my family I had a very slim chance of surviving,” Lexi said.
Based on the severity of her condition, doctors made the decision to transfer Lexi by plane to the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.
Reflecting on the Journey
With specialized care and medication in Fargo, Lexi began to recover. She continues to take blood thinning medication to prevent future blood clots.
Today, Lexi is healthy and strong — but she remains grateful for the emergency care she received in Bemidji.
“The next closest ED to me is in Bagley, and I don’t think I would have made it. I think 30 minutes would have been too much because five minutes was almost too much,” Lexi said. “The day after I got out of the hospital in Fargo, I brought flowers to the two nurses that were primary in Bemidji (the day I was brought in).”
Because she was unconscious during her time in the Emergency Department, Lexi has also spent time reviewing the notes of her visit, which are listed in her Sanford MyChart.
“I usually stop reading when it says ‘CPR initiated.’ I just know it was a good result,” she said. “I think I’m most thankful for the doctor who was here that day. He could have decided to wait for a scan or a lab or just wait for everything. But he just kept going and kept throwing just everything at me. And if he wouldn’t have done that, I don’t think I would have survived.”
After she was fully recovered, Lexi completed her studies and graduated from her nursing program. She now works as a registered nurse for the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center where she enjoys caring for patients.
“I like giving them a little bit of happiness when they just don’t feel good at all,” Lexi said. “Just helping them have a little bit of peace and comfort when they’re struggling.”
Advancing Care in Bemidji
Today, Lexi is sharing her story to raise awareness for the importance of lifesaving emergency care in Bemidji — and to inspire support for a new priority project that will enhance the Emergency Department at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.
“(This project is) important because the Emergency Department is a huge resource for Bemidji,” Lexi said. “It supports people in their darkest times, gives them a chance when there might not be one without it. That’s a good reason for all of us to support it.”
Give for Good
If you’re inspired by this story and want to support the Emergency Department enhancement project at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, give for good today. 100% of your gift will help support this priority initiative for the Bemidji region — ensuring every patient has access to the right care at the right time, close to home.