A woman who spent 30 days in a coma fighting for her life experienced an unforgettable moment soon after waking. Victoria Cupay from Illinois had been diagnosed with lupus and suffered a severe reaction to medication in 2019. Lupus, a chronic, incurable condition, can cause symptoms like joint pain, skin rashes, and fatigue, with severe cases potentially leading to life-threatening inflammation of the heart, lungs, brain, or kidneys.
For Victoria, the medication triggered serious deterioration in her skin and organs, leading to her coma on August 19, 2019, according to the Daily Mail. “I went from no medications to taking more than my grandmother,” she explained. “It was a huge adjustment, and I was told there’s no cure.”
With no family history of lupus, Victoria was uncertain about her prognosis. She was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, both life-threatening reactions to the medication. Describing the day she entered the coma, she said, “My mom took me to the ER, and everything spiraled. I was placed in an ICU Burn Unit. Though not technically a burn victim, my body was ‘burning’ from the inside out, with skin shedding and affecting my intestines and organs.”
After 30 days, Victoria finally woke up to uplifting news: her boyfriend, Nick Baldo, was by her side, proposing with a diamond ring. “He had asked my mom’s permission to propose, just as I’d wanted,” she recalled. “He chose that moment because I’d had so many close calls, and he wanted me to have a happy memory if I didn’t survive.”
The couple waited three years to marry, on August 19, 2022, allowing Victoria time to recover and for the pandemic to ease. This year, they welcomed a baby boy, a dream Victoria once feared would never come true. “Lupus patients have high miscarriage risks, so it was a challenging pregnancy. We’ve longed for him for so long,” she said. “He loves playing with books and enjoys steak and asparagus—a true joy in our lives.”
Now, Victoria uses social media to raise lupus awareness and share her inspiring journey.