“In 2020, I developed a skin infection on my leg. I delayed going to hospital for 24 hours but in that time I felt really unwell, possibly the worst I had ever felt.  

Due to the client work I had undertaken in the area of Sepsis for escalla, I recognised several of the signs that I may have Sepsis. When I did go to A&E, I volunteered the signs to the consultant and explained my suspicions regarding Sepsis. Within 1 hour, the results were positive and I was given IV antibiotics.  

Despite the swift treatment, I spent 4 weeks in hospital with medical staff trying to get on top of the infection. The infection eventually covered half of my left leg and there was talk of possible amputation at the knee. The consultant dermatologist at the hospital (teaching hospital) even asked if she could take pictures to use as a reference point as it was the worst skin infection she had ever seen in her 15 years as a consultant – aspirationally I hope I am never in a similar position to become a teaching reference point again… 

I am left with legacy damage to lymph nodes and the like but ended up making a “full” recovery.  The importance of effective and quick recognition and start of treatment for Sepsis was very clear to me through personal experience. I do wonder how much worse things could have been if treatment didn’t start as quickly as it did.  

I am very grateful for the work undertaken by The UK Sepsis Trust, particularly because it allowed me a greater understanding of symptoms to be able to suggest to the medical staff “Could this be sepsis?”. I am glad that escalla continues to support this charity and work with them to provide learning and education in the important area of Sepsis recognition and treatment.”

Saving a Life with Knowledge

“My 81-year-old father-in-law developed a chest infection in autumn last year, which resulted in a trip to A&E and hospital admission, as it had progressed to pneumonia. Having been involved with The UK Sepsis Trust e-Learning project from the start, I was fortunate enough to be aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis. 

I knew that pneumonia was the largest cause of sepsis in adults and that my father-in-law would be at greater risk of sepsis due to his age. Therefore, my partner and I were very mindful that sepsis could develop, so we were on the lookout for any signs or symptoms and mentioned our concerns to the hospital staff. 

This enabled an early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, which saved his life. But had we not been specific in our concerns, I’m not sure it would have been picked up. We noticed that my father-in-law was far more confused than we had ever seen him, but this didn’t automatically register with medical staff, who were inclined to assume that this was a symptom of dementia. 

Despite the swift treatment, unfortunately, my father-in-law spent several weeks in and out of the hospital with repeated sepsis infections, including significant time in ICU. Although he ultimately recovered from the infection, his health has declined considerably as a result. He is no longer able to walk or mobilize himself, and his cognition has deteriorated dramatically. 

I am very grateful for the work of The UK Sepsis Trust, particularly because it made me confident to ask ‘Could this be sepsis?’ when my father-in-law was being treated. I am proud to continue to support them through escalla’s charity work and our ongoing e-Learning projects."

Neil's Story: Losing a Loved One

"My mother had been suffering from Alzheimer's for years and was in a care home. But it was sepsis that actually killed my mum, not Alzheimer's. 

It was the day of Prince Philip's funeral, Saturday 17th April 2021, when my sister was called by the care home to say that Mum had been taken to hospital, as she wasn't feeling well. We were reassured it was just a precautionary measure and there wasn't anything to worry about. However, that evening, I got a call from my sister to say that Mum was very sick as she had developed sepsis. We were advised to get to the hospital urgently, as she might not survive the night. 

I made a frantic dash across town to Northwick Park Hospital. The country was just coming out of Covid lockdown, so we were only allowed to enter Mum's room one at a time, and we had to wear disposable gowns, gloves, and face masks. She was wired up to a drip, her breathing was heavy and fast, and she looked terrible. We all prepared for the worst. 

Matt's Story: A Narrow Escape 

"Sepsis doesn’t discriminate. My brother-in-law, Gavin, contracted sepsis during Covid-19. He is a freelance graphic designer, however, during the pandemic, the need for his services was few and far between. His brother Matt has his own building business, and Gavin started working with Matt during this period. 

Gav is a well-built, active fella; he goes to the gym, plays some golf, and rides a bike often. He also has three kids between the ages of 4 and 11. One day, while working with his brother, he knelt on a small nail, which pierced his skin slightly. He didn’t realise this until about a week later when his knee started to balloon, and he began to get a fever and shortness of breath. 

He went straight to his doctor, who thankfully recognised the signs of sepsis, red-flagged it, and sent him straight to the hospital. However, when he saw a doctor at the hospital, they advised that it was likely just an infection and arranged to get him antibiotics and send him home. While waiting for his meds, another health professional walked past Gav, who by this time was shaking uncontrollably, and felt a second opinion was needed urgently. It was confirmed as sepsis. 

Gav then spent the next 10 days in the hospital. He was in a bad way, with the first five days on saline drips, constant antibiotics, and more. It was touch and go as to whether they might have to remove his leg to stop the infection, as they didn’t know what his cells looked like under the knee. Eventually, the decision was made to operate to scrape away the bad cells and look underneath. Thankfully, the cells below were in good shape, which meant any concern about removing his leg was over. 

The focus then shifted to getting him well enough to return home to his family. The scary thing is that not only could a healthy, active man in his late 30s have had to have a leg removed, but he could also have died had he been sent home with just antibiotics, as recommended by the first doctor. That’s not a criticism of the doctor, but it shows that even in the healthcare profession, there may still be a lack of awareness of how dangerous sepsis can be.