Christine Sentz never imagined that a common prescription could nearly end her life. At 44, she developed sudden, severe pain in her arms and hands. Her doctor suspected an autoimmune issue and prescribed sulfasalazine — a drug taken safely by many people each year.

But soon after starting it, Christine developed a fever and a small rash. She stopped the medication, yet her symptoms worsened quickly. Within hours, her skin turned bright red, she fainted several times, and her body felt like it was shutting down. When she returned to the hospital, the doctor told her it was the worst reaction he had ever seen.

Christine was rushed to a burn unit, where specialists discovered she had DRESS syndrome, a rare and life-threatening reaction to certain medications. It can attack the skin and vital organs, and it often appears weeks after starting a new drug. Many doctors had never seen it before.

Her liver and kidneys began to fail, and she required painful daily treatments to remove damaged skin. She was wrapped in a protective suit to help her heal. Although her face and hands were spared from blistering, recovery took nearly three years.

Only later did Christine learn how close she came to dying. Her husband had been warned she might not survive the first night.

Now 52, she is extremely cautious with any medication and speaks openly about DRESS syndrome so others can recognize warning signs sooner. Her organs have healed, but the emotional impact remains — and she hopes her story will help save lives.