A young mother in Arizona is in critical condition after consuming a kratom supplement for pain, her family reported. Amanda Goodsell, 27, a mother of three-year-old twins, was hospitalized on July 7 after experiencing severe cardiac failure.
Goodsell had not previously used kratom, an over-the-counter herbal supplement, but was advised to try it by her husband, Mike, for persistent leg pain. She reportedly took kratom gummies for about a week.
Mike Goodsell found his wife unresponsive and struggling to breathe, prompting an emergency call. She was rushed to the hospital and placed on a ventilator, with her heart functioning at only 15% capacity. Doctors initially believed she might require a heart transplant. Kratom, legal but regulated in Arizona, has been associated with effects similar to opioids and is sometimes referred to as 'gas station heroin.'
After two weeks in the hospital, Goodsell's condition improved significantly, and her heart function stabilized, averting the need for a transplant. However, she will require lifelong heart medication and a defibrillator. The family is facing substantial medical expenses and has launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs, as they reportedly lack insurance. Her sister-in-law, Sherri Nelson, initiated the fundraiser, detailing the frightening ordeal and emphasizing Goodsell's importance to her family.