Ayrshire woman 'lucky to be alive' as she raises awareness of sepsis

Someone dies in Scotland from sepsis every four hours.

That's according to statistics from the charity, Sepsis Research, which also says the condition accounts for more death in the UK than bowel, prostate and breast cancer combined.

The NHS describes sepsis as a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.

It is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning and you can't catch sepsis from another person.

Every year on the 13th of September, thousands of people share their own experiences to raise awareness on World Sepsis Day.

Stacey McWee, 30, from Ayr is joining them after surviving sepsis in 2014.

She says, "They had taken me to theatre, took out my apendix, called my parents and told them to expect the worst.

"I didn't really know what it was. I was just told I'd had sepsis and that was kind of it.

"I was really quite scared and I think now I know more about it, I realise just how lucky I am to be here today.

"You hear about it reoccurring and that was one thing I was worried about. Even now when I get it, doctors do take it really seriously.

"Obviously not everything is going to be sepsis but it's just about being mindful. A lot of people carry on in silence and that's almost what I did. I thought it would just pass.

"If I'd have done that and didn't get help, then I probably wouldn't be here.

"It took a lot of getting used to afterwards. I have no physical disability as a result of it which is really lucky.

"But it made me think about life a bit differently. I think we take it for granted so much."

Hear all the latest news from across Glasgow and the West on the hour, every hour, at Clyde 1. Listen on FM, via our Radio Clyde app, on your DAB radio, online at Clyde1.com, or say ‘Play Clyde 1’ on your Smart Speaker.

• sepsis