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In 2013, Mandy Mccracken lost her hands and feet to Sepsis at the age of 39. It began with a fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and lead to a ten month long hospital stay. Now with the aid of prosthetic hands and legs, Mandy has returned to driving, gardening, cooking and she has even gone back to occasionally rock climbing. With the help of her husband Rod and their three daughters, Mandy is continuing to live a vibrant and fun filled life.
After meeting other quadruple amputees, Mandy and fellow amputee, Korrin Barrett began the Quad Squad. The worlds only support group for people specifically missing all four limbs, the Quad Squad now has over 230 members and is a place to connect and support one another. Meeting biannually in Australia, Mandy facilitates the Quad Squad Muster, where quadruple amputees share tips and ideas as well as hear from industry experts.
As a regular face in the media and through her blogs, Mandy has shared her story and aims to make disability a regular part of our conversations. She regularly volunteers with prosthetic students and speaks to community and corporate groups about resilience and dealing with change. “Life is one giant social experiment.”
Get in touch through her website or follow her on Facebook.
As an 18-year-old Honours Law student, Maddy was intelligent, beautiful, very independent, wickedly funny with sarcastic undertones (sometimes irreverent) and a great lover of all of God’s creatures, in particular dogs. Maddy was larger than life, a high achiever that typically got what she wanted, through sheer dedication and perseverance.
Maddy attended the Queensland Tennis School of Excellence at Kelvin Grove State College, during her high school years. She loved the social side of Tennis and was much loved by her Tennis Fraternity. She fought hard in every game to make sure she won as she was very competitive. After leaving school and whilst attending University, she returned to her love of tennis by coaching young children in the sport at Southern Cross Tennis. This was an extraordinary effort on her part as she was studying a double degree and working as many hours as she could at Grill’d, to earn her own income.
Maddy worked hard, was loved and respected by all those that she worked with, and she enjoyed spending her money on the finer things in life. Maddy was meticulous at looking after herself. She paid attention to her fitness, attended the Gym, spared no expense with her makeup and hair, and it showed. She was a very pretty young lady.
That’s why we are still coming to terms with how, just two weeks shy of her 19th Birthday, Maddy became ill with Influenza, developed pneumonia, and just over one week later, died from Sepsis, in Intensive Care.
Through Maddy’s story, her legacy, she will continue to be an achiever by saving the lives of others. Please educate yourself, your family and friends about Sepsis. Share Maddy’s story. Get the Flu Shot and know the signs of Sepsis. It might not just be the flu. Ask the question ‘Could it be Sepsis?’
To learn more about Maddy’s story go to her website Maddy’s story
Little Mia Wilkinson might only be six, but already her story could span lifetimes. Little Mia is a pocket rocket who, despite her young age, just happens to be one of the gutsiest people you’ll ever meet.
Mia could well have been another casualty of the deadly flu outbreak. This year, the numbers are frightening – it’s not just the sick and elderly, but the young and healthy. Australia is in the midst of the second-deadliest flu season on record. More than 130 thousand cases have already been reported, and there have been more than 230 deaths.
Just a year and a half ago, Mia was a happy, healthy girl, full of beans and just learning how to ride a bike. Then, within hours of coming down with the flu, she was fighting for her life. Her parents, Peter and Amy, were forced to make the most agonising decision: whether to let doctors amputate all four of her limbs.
To see more of this compelling story of bravery and love see Mia the flu and sepsis
To support Mia and learn more about her journey see Movement for Mia
Matthew Ames was 39 years old when what started as a sore throat resulted in the loss of all four of his limbs. He had contracted streptococcal resulting in toxic shock and was never expected to survive. Matthew has beaten the odds, spurred on by the fact that he is the father of four young children and husband of a very dedicated wife determined to grow old with him.
MATTHEW’S CHALLENGE
Since his limbs were removed, Matthew has been faced with incredible challenges. Some of the biggest have been in knowledge available to him about his prospects and ideas about how much he should expect to be able to do. He is one of very few quadruple amputees in Australia, let alone globally. His limbs are significantly shorter than most and at present he relies entirely on his core strength to sit upright and move. Most prosthetics are designed in the context that other limbs are available (arm prosthetics, for example, that have levers that need another arm to manoeuvre).
Matthew has developed his own ideas about what he needs, and the simple tasks of being able to walk unassisted and feed himself are at the top of the list.
To be able to do this, he needs prosthetics that will cost around $500,000 per set. They will need replacing every 5 – 7 years. Matthew’s amputations were not acquired as a workplace or car accident, and he is too young to receive assistance as someone over 65, so the acquisition of these limbs and associated support is largely unfunded.
Matthew came home in the first half of 2013 and has continued to focus on his rehabilitation and sharing his story of resilience with others. He has also been communicating with government about disability services on behalf of those like him who fall through the funding cracks, and to raise awareness of issues in support for amputees.
SEVEN YEARS ON
Matthew has met many unexpected milestones, such as learning to drive his modified car. He can be seen around Brisbane on the sidelines cheering on one (or more) of the children playing sport. He serves on boards for organisations such as Hear and Say, and works closely with the government and other organisations to prevent sepsis happening to others. He also gives the odd speech and appears on stage every now and then.
The next milestone is a set of new legs that Matthew has been training for. These legs will have knees and will help him become taller. They present a whole new set of challenges, mainly not falling!
For more information on Matt’s journey please click here.
Matt wouldn’t be where his is now without the amazing support of community, friends, family, medical experts – the list is very long.
Quite simply, thank you.
Korina is married to Daniel, mother to two young children, Hayden and Amelia, and enjoys a very close bond with her parents, Chris and Sandra, and sister Crystal. Dedicated to her husband, children and extended family, with a wide social network of friends and work colleagues, Korina embraced life.
However, In April 2015, one week before her 28th birthday, Korina became seriously ill with symptoms doctors thought to be influenza but was in fact a life threatening bacterial infection. Korina’s condition rapidly deteriorated and doctors held grave fears for her survival and placed her on life support as vital organs shut down.
Korina was now facing the biggest challenge of her young life – the battle to survive this insidious infection that could potentially take her life.
Against all odds, with drive and determination coupled with the love and support of extended family and friends, as well as competent and caring medical teams Korina survived. Unfortunately the severity of her condition resulted in quadruple amputations devastating this young couple and bringing a new set of challenges for them to overcome. Both arms were amputated just below the elbow, one leg close to her hip and the other leg just below her knee.
Prosthetics and medical aids are very costly with prosthetics needing to be replaced every 7 – 10 years during Korina’s lifetime. Government funding will not cover all these costs therefore the charity needs as much help as possible to raise funds to ensure Korina enjoys a basic quality of life.
Korina’s inspirational story is shared here in the hope that she can be supported through the toughest challenge of her life.
For more information please see: http://www.reaching4korina.com.au/
It has been more than 7 years since Katie nearly lost her life to sepsis. In early 2010, Katie was a recent high school graduate and looking forward to studying make-up artistry. Then 18 years old, Katie developed a renal abscess that led to septic shock. At first, she assumed she had the flu and remembers feeling unwell for a week or so. One night she had back pain that was so excruciating she could only crawl to the bathroom.
A visit to a GP revealed Katie likely had a urinary tract infection (UTI). She returned home but remained in pain, with fever and constant vomiting. At one point she developed uncontrollable tremors and was unable to walk. Katie recalls being conscious of what she was saying to her then-boyfriend – she was so convinced she was going to die and wanted him to remember her has a good and kind person.
Katie’s partner eventually took her to the emergency department at the nearest hospital, on advice from his mother. She says she felt so unwell at this point, it is ‘indescribable’.
Katie and her mum shortly after her time in hospital
Arriving at the hospital, Katie could not stand or walk on her own, and was very confused – unable to answer simple questions about what day it was or how old she was. She was transferred to a larger hospital nearby, where she had a central line and an arterial line inserted, to monitor her dangerously low blood pressure.
A CT scan confirmed a renal abscess, caused by the UTI. Katie’s body had developed sepsis in response to the infection.
Katie’s memory of this time is very patchy: she was confused, scared, and felt completely alone.
Shortly after – and despite being so unwell – she was transferred once again, this time to Melbourne’s Austin Hospital. The medical staff there were surprised Katie had survived the ambulance trip, and immediately placed her in the intensive care unit (ICU), where she was given adrenaline. Doctors tried to treat the infection with IV antibiotics, but the bacteria was resistant to all antibiotics. As a last resort, a drain was inserted into the abscess – without anaesthesia, as Katie was too sick to be put under. She remembers this being extremely painful, but is thankful for the procedure as it saved her life.
Katie was in ICU for close to a week, and then transferred to a ward as she began to recover. She suffered a collapsed lung and constant pain, and was also diagnosed with glandular fever, but her parents were by her side the entire time. She has a happy memory of her parents ‘busting her out’ one afternoon for lunch at McDonalds.
After two weeks on a general ward, Katie was discharged from hospital. She had to learn to walk again, and it took two years for her to feel recovered. But more than 7 years on, Katie is still experiencing the impact of sepsis. She takes sleep medication every night, and suffers from ongoing muscle pain. Like many sepsis survivors, Katie has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Katie today
‘A lot of the time when people around you see your body has healed, they assume you have also healed emotionally’ says Katie. ‘But the emotional stuff tends to stick around for a lot longer’.
Katie’s experience with sepsis has inspired her to help others, and she is now halfway through a nursing degree. As a passionate sepsis awareness advocate, Katie wants to help other survivors feel less alone, and to raise awareness of sepsis within the community. She is grateful for the doctors and nurses who cared for her and saved her life. As a nurse, she hopes to do the same for someone one day.
Thomas Snell, or ‘Snelly’ as he was affectionately known, was a popular, bright and mature 13 year old from the Northern Territory. A natural and talented athlete – and winner of many ‘Best and Fairest Awards’ – Thomas played cricket, AFL and rugby union, and could often be found outdoors, fishing, skiing, or bike-riding, or perfecting his cricket bowling skills. He was an animal lover and would spend countless hours with his dogs, pigs and his chickens, Blackie and Oprah.
Thomas at home in Acacia Hills, NT
Thomas was a keen and talented rugby player
In late June 2017, Thomas was in Brisbane, representing the Northern Territory in the Queensland Rugby Union Junior State Championships. Several of Thomas’ teammates had contracted the flu, and he became unwell the night before a game. A GP visit determined Thomas was suffering from ‘gastro’. He was sent home with tablets and advised to rest, but his condition quickly deteriorated – his breathing becoming shallow, and his skin discoloured.
Only five hours after seeing the GP, Thomas was taken to Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. He was already in complete organ failure.
Thomas spent the next three weeks on a distressing rollercoaster ride in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), being placed on two consecutive ECMO life support machines, and fighting very hard to survive. His lungs were damaged from pneumonia and ongoing infections that had triggered septic shock, and he was facing amputation of his hands and legs. This time was incredibly difficult for Thomas and his family.
Twenty days after being admitted to the ICU, Thomas’ condition had deteriorated even further. Hi parents, together with his medical team, made the devastating decision to turn off his life support.
When the time came to turn off his life support machines, Thomas was wheeled outside on his hospital bed and took his last breaths as the sun set. His parents were by his side.
Thomas (front) with his family in 2016
Almost a year after Thomas’ death, his family is still coming to terms with the loss of their son and brother, who they will always remember as loyal and humble, with a contagious laugh and dry sense of humour. The backyard cricket pitch where Thomas spent countless hours is now his resting place, and a special space for his family.
Thomas’ parents, Amanda and Phillip, are passionate about promoting sepsis awareness, so that no other family has to experience the loss they and Thomas’ younger brother now live with. They have established a foundation in memory of Thomas, and are campaigning to raise funds and increase public education about sepsis.
Sarah was no stranger to hospitals when she developed sepsis in October 2017. At only 18, she was battling a pituitary tumour and two inoperable optic gliomas (a type a tumour on the nerve that connects the eye to the brain) that had caused blindness in her right eye, and was undergoing weekly chemotherapy at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.
As part of her chemotherapy, Sarah had a ‘port’ inserted: a small disc under the skin, with an attached tube leading to a large vein. Chemotherapy medicines are given through the port with a special needle.
During the early stages of her chemotherapy, Sarah visited another Sydney hospital for a check-up. She began feeling unwell shortly after and returned to the hospital, only to be told she had a virus and to go home to rest.
One week later, Sarah was taken by ambulance to the emergency department (ED) after collapsing. She was given pain relief, and had bloods taken. Doctors were satisfied with her blood results and discharged her.
The following day, Sarah received a call from the ED doctor who had treated her, asking her to come in for treatment for a “mild infection”. She was given a bed and told she had “septicaemia” via her chemo port. She had her infected port removed, and a ‘PICC line’ inserted (an internal catheter for IV access). Sarah spent two weeks in hospital, receiving antibiotics via IV, and was discharged despite still feeling unwell.
Two days later Sarah was once again taken to hospital by ambulance – this time listed as critical, with dangerously low blood pressure. This time, Sarah was treated with fluids and four different antibiotics, and received multiple blood transfusions. Her PICC line had also become infected, and was removed.
Sarah spent close to a month in hospital being treated for sepsis – the result of four different types of bacteria in her infected port and PICC line.
She is now recovering slowly, but sepsis has left her body too weak for any more chemotherapy or radiation treatment for the inoperable tumour she still lives with. She also suffers from painful nerve damage.
Before developing sepsis, Sarah had completed a Diploma of Nursing and was undertaking work placements to further her career. Her time in hospital and ongoing sepsis-related health issues have meant she is not able to continue her nursing placements – but she says her medical knowledge helped her recognise the symptoms of sepsis.
Sarah is now focusing on a new career path – having been accepted to university to study a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice – and her ongoing health and recovery.
Charlie was the spirit of life, with never ending smiles and giggles and he was the embodiment of absolute joy and happiness in our lives. (more…)
Late in 2012 I suffered a life threatening illness that lead to nine days on life support, almost eight months in hospital and multiple surgeries including the amputation of both legs below the knee, my right hand and all of the fingers off my left hand. But I survived and I saw a choice between denial and depression or acceptance and I chose to accept and embrace. In April 2013, after five months of intensive rehabilitation, I was finally able to return home and four days later I returned to my role as Traffic & Transport on the APLNG project with Origin Energy. I have since learnt to not only walk again but with the support of my amazing partner Craig, family, friends, colleagues and even strangers I am now living my life to the fullest extent I possibly can.
Prior to becoming ill, I was a fit, healthy young woman and a few months ago I had reached a point where I longed to be able to return to the fitness level I’d had before. I contacted numerous organisations, joined my local gym and even researched adaptive exercises for amputees online however I still didn’t feel I was going to be able to reach my goal of getting fit and competing in the Bridge to Brisbane 5km race this year…and then I discovered Evolution to Wellbeing (evo), an outdoor fitness company run in 20 locations in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Their website drew me in because not only did they offer group sessions in my area and mobile personal trainers, but it had a purpose…to give back to those less fortunate through a charity organisation called You Move Me, a project that helps underprivileged Bolivians who have become amputees. With evo I could aim to achieve two goals in one place…to get fit and to find a way to help!
After contacting the owner of evo, Mike Britton, and sharing my story, Craig and I flew down to Sydney where we met Mike and a number of the evo trainers. After sharing my story and my desire to help other amputees, I was extremely lucky to be appointed as the ambassador of You Move Me. I have been training with evo trainer Amy Bridle and became a member of the Sporting Wheelies gym. I have committed myself to now not only complete the Bridge to Brisbane race this year but compete in the 14km City to Surf race in Sydney next year. I am also hope to travel to Bolivia in 2016 to see first hand the incredible work being done by the You Move Me project and between now and then I will endeavour to raise awareness of the positive impact the organisation is having on those receiving prosthetic limbs.
I had already decided 2014 was going to be my year and I have many items on my bucket list to tick off this year. I will return to driving, continue to work part time in a new role as my contract with APLNG has finished, travel inter-state and overseas, get fit and healthy, participate in the Bridge to Brisbane, spend quality time with friends and family, continue to meet amazing people, inspire as many people as I can and live each day to the max. I won’t say that what I have gone through is by any means easy or that it hasn’t largely impacted on both mine and my partner’s lives, but as I mentioned earlier, I made a choice very early on to embrace the new me and live the life I’d been spared to the full. If I can inspire just one person to turn their life around through motivational speaking, my social media pages or just by meeting them in person then I’ve achieved one of my many goals!