SAN ANTONIO — A Pleasanton woman who became a quadruple amputee after a life-threatening medical emergency has been honored with a national award for her resilience and dedication to her community.

Krystina Pacheco was diagnosed with gallbladder inflammation shortly after giving birth to her second child. The condition escalated to septic shock, ultimately leading to the amputation of both her hands and feet.

“It’s not every day, especially in a small town like Pleasanton, that you see someone with all four amputations,” Pacheco said. “I feel like showing the diversity of someone with a disability to my students who also have disabilities shows them that they’re not alone.”

Despite undergoing more than a dozen surgeries, skin grafts and reconstructive procedures, Pacheco returned to wor

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