A SEPSIS survivor is becoming the face of a charity’s Christmas campaign to help people understand the impact of the condition and its symptoms.
Judith Searles, from Romsey, faced sepsis during Christmas 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and is now supporting the charity Sepsis Research FEAT.
The charity’s Christmas campaign includes people like Judith who are sharing their sepsis stories to help more people become aware of the symptoms and why it is vital to seek urgent medical attention when they’re spotted.
The campaign pays tribute to people who have died from sepsis with a video featuring singer Natalie Rushdie, whose young daughter had sepsis in 2021, performing Auld Lang Syne alongside photographs of adults and children who have died.
Judith, a florist and mother of two, had surgery to remove a kidney stone and stent but went back to hospital when she developed a high temperature and was shivering uncontrollably. The florist was on IV and oral antibiotics for 10 days but her family were unable to visit her due to Covid restrictions.
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The sepsis survivor said: “I feel blessed to be here to celebrate this year but will never take it for granted after spending 2020 in hospital for Christmas week. It’s taken a while to share my story - I was lucky to survive and feel thankful that nursing staff in the A&E department clocked sepsis and began immediate treatment.
“My sepsis journey has taught me to live every day to the full, and it is really important to me now to share my story to raise awareness.”
Approximately five people die with Sepsis every hour in the UK. It occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, injuring tissues and organs which can result in multiple organ failure and death.
The five key symptoms include confusion, not passing as much urine as normal, very high or low temperature, uncontrolled shivering and cold or blotch arms and legs.
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The charity’s CEO, Colin Graham, said: “Sepsis is an indiscriminate, deadly condition that can kill a previously healthy adult or child in a matter of hours. Cases could be mistaken for the flu because of similar symptoms, particularly around Christmas when flu is more common.
"The difference is that these symptoms worsen rapidly when sepsis is the cause. The most important thing is to react fast and seek medical attention because this can improve chances of survival."
Sepsis Research FEAT is encouraging people to spread the word on sepsis and its symptoms as well urging people with relevant experiences to share their story using the hashtag #StopSepsisNow.
For more go to sepsisresearch.org.uk.
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