Mum who was rushed to hospital with life-threatening infection hours after giving birth, raises thousands for hospital which saved her
Natasha Grove has raised thousands of pounds for hospital ward that saved her from sepsis and Strep A
A Swansea mother who spent weeks in intensive care following the birth of her daughter is raising thousands of pounds for the hospital unit that saved her life, while also spreading awareness about the dangers of Strep A infection and sepsis.
Natasha Grove had her second child, Phoebe, at Singleton’s maternity unit in January.
However, shortly after returning home, she began to experience severe pain and difficulty walking.
Within 12 hours, Natasha had to return to the hospital, where she was urgently transferred to Morriston Hospital for treatment after being diagnosed with a Strep A infection that had led to septic shock.
Natasha, a civil servant, spent a 28 days in the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU), with 18 of those days on life support.
She said: "I knew something was wrong—I had excruciating pelvic pain and could barely walk,".
After returning to the maternity unit, further tests revealed that her body was battling a severe infection, which escalated into sepsis and, eventually, septic shock.
The infection resulted in multiple organ failure, septic arthritis in her right knee and left wrist, and pneumonia.
Natasha underwent three surgeries during her 40-day hospital stay.
Natasha recently completed an 8-mile mountain walk along a forestry trail in the Ogmore Valley.
Accompanied by family and friends, she undertook the challenge to raise funds for the Intensive Care Unit at Morriston Hospital, whose care she credits with saving her life.
Natasha, who shares her home with her husband Andrew and their 3-year-old son Wilfred, says she is determined to use her experience to help others by raising both funds and awareness of the life-threatening conditions she faced.