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Our Journey 

2/4/2017

5 Comments

 
​by Donna McFarlane & Thomas Wilson (in Memory of our Mum)
"There is not enough knowledge out there on sepsis"
In 2013 our Mum contracted Sepsis whilst in hospital.

On 31st December 2013 - New Years Eve - we received a telephone call from the doctors and we were informed to make our way to the hospital as our Mum had deteriorated for the worse.

We arrived at the hospital and our Mum was being transferred to Intensive Care. We were put into a family room and stayed the whole night, taking it in turns to sit by our Mum's bedside. On the 1st January 2014 at 1 p.m. we were given the worst news that Mum was deteriorating and the doctor was 50/50 about putting our Mum on Life Support.

We asked him to please persist and give our Mum some hope, some chance to fight! The doctor proceeded to ventilate my Mum.
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Mum remained on life support for 10 days. These days seemed long and Mum showed no signs of improvement so doctors decided to take her off the life support and see how she reacts. Our Mum reacted well and went on to make a full recovery! She looked fab upon her return to the family home after nearly a 5 month stay in Hospital.

Three years later, in January 2017, our Mum became not well. She was shaky and had shortness of breath. We called out the doctor on 4th January, and Mum was given antibiotics for urine and chest infections.

However one day later there was still no improvement; her breath was becoming even shorter and upon checking her urine there was hardly any produced! My brother phoned the doctor on the 6th January and Mum was admitted to hospital to get checked over. Upon arrival to the Hospital Mum was deteriorating. Eventually, once a doctor came, they took one look at her and telephoned for a team to appear as she was very sick.

At 5 a.m. on Saturday 7th January Mum was admitted to Medical High Dependency where she underwent a chest X-ray and kidney scan. We sat patiently as the doctors were going to have a meeting about her. At 12.30 p.m. the doctor spoke to our family to advise that Mum had a small hole in her bowel which was leaking, and also that our Mum's kidney was not working and not producing any urine.

The doctor advised they could not operate to fix the hole as Mum was very sick and she would most likely die on the operating table. Therefore, this left only one option - to treat it with antibiotics and hope it would kickstart the kidney. We were told don't loose hope.

Having been in this situation before we knew what all the machines meant. We sat with our Mum holding her hand, talking to her in the hope she could hear us, telling her come on mum fight this! At 8 p.m. the doctor advised there was still no sign of improvement.

We knew what this meant. We knew then our Mum wasn't going to win this fight. Sadly at 11.30 p.m. on 7th January 2017 surrounded by family and friends our Mum lost her battle with Sepsis 💗❤️💗❤️ #GBNF #RIP

We cannot help but think about how our Mum was seen by doctors and nurses and no-one spotted the signs. There is not enough knowledge out there on Sepsis. We are trying to raise awareness of the symptoms as it's crucial to spot these promptly within the first "Golden Hour" as it could save a life!

Sepsis should be treated like a heart attack! Help us raise awareness of this horrible infection. We are hosting a Charity Disco & Raffle to raise funds for FEAT (Fiona Elizabeth Agnew Trust) if anyone can donate a prize to our Raffle and Charity Auction please get in touch.

www.justgiving.com/Donna-Wilson18


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5 Comments
Tom Ray link
2/4/2017 03:46:50 am

So sorry. Thank you for sharing. I had the same experience and the delay in treating my Sepsis meant I lost all my limbs and my face. I speak publicly about Sepsis and I will remember what you say about that first golden hour. Warm regards.

Reply
Stewart Bint
2/4/2017 04:00:53 am

Thanks Tom. I'll ensure Donna is informed about your comment.

Reply
Donna
2/7/2017 03:48:57 am

Hi Tom thank you for passing on your condolences ❤️ It's crazy that there is no dedicated teams in A&E Department across the country! Most of my friends didn't even know what Sepsis was or the signs to spot. It's so crucial the GOLDEN Hour and yet we waited nearly 10 hours for scan results 😥😥

Reply
Tom Ray link
2/7/2017 04:13:02 am

Hi Donna yes I agree - speed of diagnosis is the crucial issue. But I am hopeful. I have met Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and I also know the medical director of the whole NHS and they are absolutely committed to taking action on Sepsis. I am doing everything I can to support the UK Sepsis Trust working with them has helped me to understand what happened to me. It's very hard I know but I send you all sincere best wishes. I always tell myself that I have the power to control the way I think about my own situation so I choose to think only good thoughts about my past present & future and all the good people I am connected to.

Donna McFarlane
2/7/2017 04:26:17 am

Hi Tom - Great to see inspirational people driving forward the awareness of Sepsis. I have just came across your film Starfish and hope to see it being screened in Fife (Scotland) Area. I have registered for a Cinema in Dunfermline and going to ask friends to do the same :) trailer looks very powerful and your journey looks inspirational. Hope all is well with you. Kind Regards Donna

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    Author

    Stewart Bint is a novelist, magazine columnist and PR writer. 

    He lives with his wife, Sue, in Leicestershire in the UK, and has two children, Christopher and Charlotte, and a budgie called Bertie.

    Usually goes barefoot.

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