Sepsis is in the news at the moment as the result of an awareness-raising storyline on The Archers when Nic Grundy dies of Sepsis (link) days after accidentally cutting her arm on a rusty nail. This storyline was introduced as a deliberate way of drawing attention to the condition which, if caught early, is eminently treatable but if left untreated can result in desperately serious consequences, such as amputation and death, with frightening speed.
The catastrophic results of Sepsis are all too real for Becki who contacted us after her mother developed the condition following a kidney infection. Becki’s mum was desperately ill for several weeks and was at one stage only given 6 hours to live before stabilising sufficiently to receive life-saving quadruple amputations, losing all four limbs to rid her body of Sepsis. Thankfully, she came through the operation and is healing well but obviously she, and her family, now face a very different and challenging life.
Adapting to life as a quadruple amputee involves not just huge courage and determination but requires considerable financial outlay to make the various adaptations necessary to all aspects of living. Vital aids, equipment and changes to the home environment to enable amputees to live with comfort and independence are expensive and, with this in mind, the family have created a CrowdFunding Page for Kim. They would be extremely grateful for any contributions to help Kim who is apparently facing this challenge with admirable strength and positivity. We applaud Kim for her courage and Becki and family for their support and devotion. We wish them all the very best of luck for the future.
Crowdfunding Page for Kim: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kimschance1
Sepsis kills 44,000 people every year in the UK – more than bowel, breast and prostate cancer put together The UK Sepsis Trust
Useful Links:
- Sepsis Alliance: Sepsis and Amputation: https://www.sepsis.org/life-after-sepsis/amputations/
- NHS Information: Sepsis Causes: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/causes/
- NHS Information: Sepsis Overview and Symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
- Medical News Today: Sepsis – What you Need to Know: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305782.php
- UK Sepsis Trust: What is Sepsis?: https://sepsistrust.org/what-is-sepsis/
NB: – we will be following up this post tomorrow. Please check in again then.