In the UK, five people lose their lives to sepsis every hour, and in 2020, I was almost one of them.

I am a sepsis survivor.

Five years ago I couldn’t have imagined being able to walk to the shop, but now I am preparing to run the London Marathon; because I am a sepsis survivor.

After a long fertility battle, a difficult pregnancy and a traumatic birth, my joy and happiness that my darling daughter Annabelle had made a safe entrance to the world was short lived, when I fell seriously ill when she was only a few days old.

What resulted was something I still struggle to deal with more than five years later, and running has been a great therapy.

My primary infection was initially misdiagnosed, and I received surgery for the wrong thing. Despite various CT scans, multiple blood tests a day, and various other daily tests, it took 12 days to receive the correct diagnosis and then be treated with the correct surgery and antibiotics, by which time I had pretty much nothing left of my appendix and also had peritonitis. I spent 11 weeks on antibiotics to treat my sepsis.

I do believe, that with more awareness and education I could have been treated quicker, and avoided unnecessary suffering.

I was recently told of a success story of a similar case to mine, four years later, where the new mum recieved diagnosis almost at the first signs of sepsis symptoms, was scheduled instantly for surgery and discharged home three days later.

With more awareness and education there will be more stories like that.

I had a long stay in hospital, resulting in separation from my baby during the first few weeks of her life, a crucial time when a new mum and baby should be together bonding. A separation that affected me so deeply until Annabelle was around two years old, which still leaves me so ashamed to this day.

Whilst in hospital with sepsis, not only was I too ill to care for her, but due to COVID restrictions, I could not have her with me or have her visit. I couldn’t have any visitors at all. My wonderful husband had to take care of our newborn on his own at home, in the middle of COVID restrictions, wondering if his wife would survive.

The no visitor rule meant my husband Mike and I, when I was conscious enough, had to have some very difficult conversations over the phone, such as the antibiotics still aren’t working, they are running out of antibiotic options, another surgery didn’t work, my numbers and observations are worse again today, and the worst of all; I think I’m going to die.

There are no words still to this day to describe how grateful I am that I didn’t die, but every year in the UK approximately 48,000 people do.

48,000 deaths which could be avoided if there was more awareness from members of the public and from within the NHS.

There is no single sign of sepsis and symptoms present differently for adults and children, which is why education and awareness is key to helping early diagnosis. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised and treated promptly.

Fundraising can help prevent thousands of deaths & unnecessary suffering through knowledge & awareness of the symptoms.

The UK Sepsis Trust works to educate healthcare professionals to recognise and treat sepsis promptly, but they also need the public to know when to Just Ask: Could it be Sepsis?

The UKST funds vital support work, Public Awareness, Educating Health Professionals & helping people adjust to life after sepsis through accessing their Support Group network. The UK Sepsis trust also lobby the government to support the cause and make vital changes in areas such as the NHS.

Around 40% of people who develop sepsis are estimated to experience physical, cognitive, and/or psychological after effects. For most people, these effects will last a few months, but others can face a long road to recovery and develop Post Sepsis Syndrome (PSS).

The UKST provides vital aftercare and support for sepsis survivors and their families, which wouldn’t be possible without vital fundraising.

I received very little aftercare from the NHS and would have been completely lost, and struggled much more, had it not been for the UKST.

From fundraising and volunteer efforts, the UKST provide online and in person support groups, a helpline service, and a plethora of information on dealing with recovery and getting back to work.

The UKST fundraising mission is absolutely though to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms to treat people quicker.

Around 245,000 people are impacted by sepsis every year in the UK, with maternal sepsis having a 10% mortality rate in the UK.

Please help me raise funds for The UKST so that other new mums like me have a very different experience and a better recovery, so that other sepsis survivors receive vital aftercare and support and to reduce the horrifying amount of what could be preventable deaths.

Thank you!