A Tale of Triumph
By Mike Bederka

Every time Joe Saggese goes back to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, the nurses shake their heads in awe when they see him. The 47-year-old spent a harrowing four months in the medical intensive care unit from December 1998 to April 1999, battling acute respiratory distress syndrome.

"My doctors tell me my case is so far worse than any they've seen before or since," said the Washington Township, N.J., resident. "Much of that time I was in a medically induced coma."

The contents of Saggese's perforated stomach ulcer resulted in a severe systemic infection, or sepsis. The condition was the probable cause of his ARDS.

"My family had been called and told my condition had worsened and it wasn't likely that I would make it through the night," he said. "I'm told that happened at least four times."

After a long and painful hospital stay, Saggese finally returned to the comforts of home. He sees life in a whole new way since his release.

"I was a high performance financial executive, constantly under the stress of tight deadlines," he said. "Those kinds of things aren't important anymore. It's a different world."

Because of his restricted lung capacity, Saggese must lead a much more sedentary lifestyle now. He often sits at his computer, looking at the work of contemporary artists on the Internet.

He enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, who all stood firm by his side through the ordeal.

"Without the vigilance, love and outpouring of help from my family," he said, "I would have never made it."

—Mike Bederka