Scots mum who lost all her toes to sepsis reveals five warning signs to look out for
Last updated 2nd May 2022
It kills more than 4,000 people in Scotland every year.
But Scots mum Kimberley Bradley says she wasn't aware of sepsis until she fell ill three years ago.
She lost all her toes after contracting the disease and now hopes sharing her story will help others spot the warning signs - and save lives.
The 42-year-old's teaming up with leading charity Sepsis Research FEAT and the Scottish Government for the new awareness-raising drive which will highlight the five key symptoms.
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Recalling her diagnosis, Kimberley said: "We had enjoyed a lovely walk along the beach and, for Easter weekend, the weather was really lovely. We came home in the early evening and started making the tea. I felt very cold and shivery and assumed that I’d maybe got too much sun. An hour or so later I started to vomit.
“I decided to go to bed and see how I felt in the morning. My husband Nathan came in to check on me a while later and I was worse. He was asking me questions and I was unable to speak. I was scared and thought I was having a stroke.
“I vaguely recall being put into the ambulance and then I was being told that it was eight days later and I had been in an induced coma. I had contracted meningococcal septicaemia which had developed into sepsis with all my organs shutting down.
"I was shocked at how fast things happened and hearing how close I came to dying. My daughter and husband both needed to be vaccinated. It was scary and emotional for them both. More so than for me as I was oblivious to it all."
Kimberley, from Edinburgh, was only three weeks into a new job when she became ill and, when she wasn’t back within a month, her contract was terminated.
Treatment took place at home and at the city's Royal Infirmary - including dialysis for her kidneys, which have now fully recovered; and dressings on her hands, feet and nose for the necrotic tissue. She says, “the wounds were dressed for a year as my toes auto-amputated. I then had surgery to amputate the three final toes”.
Three years on, Kimberley is still receiving treatment and reveals she may need additional tissue on her feet removed.
Like many, she wasn’t aware of sepsis prior to her diagnosis but encourages others to let someone know if they're feeling ill. Kimberley added: "If my husband hadn’t checked on me through the night, I wouldn’t have survived until the morning."
So, what is sepsis?
The deadly condition - also known as blood poisoning - occurs when the body’s response to an infection spirals rapidly out of control, injuring its own tissues and organs. This can result in multiple organ failure and death.
What are the five key symptoms?
- ⦁ Confusion
- ⦁ Not passing as much urine as normal
- ⦁ Very high or low temperature
- ⦁ Uncontrolled shivering
- ⦁ Cold or blotchy arms and legs
If someone has two or more of these symptoms, becoming progressively or rapidly worse, this indicates they may have sepsis and urgent medical attention should be sought.
Who's at risk?
Colin Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Sepsis Research FEAT, said: "It is a devastating condition that can kill a previously healthy adult or child in hours. "The more people across the country who are able to spot the key symptoms of sepsis in themselves and others, the more lives will be saved.”