Stephanie’s zest for life after sepsis PEOPLE
A BRAVE woman had her world ‘turned upside down’ after she had both legs and nine fingers amputated after a simple virus turned out to be sepsis.
Stephanie Harrop, 64, was struck down with sepsis in 2019 and fell into a coma - but when she woke up her hands and feet were completely black.
Stephanie from Greetland began to feel unwell on April 1, 2019, complaining of back pain, wheeziness and nausea.
Her condition worsened and she began to vomit, but her nurse practitioner told her she had a virus and was given no treatment.
A GP prescribed her with anti-sickness tablets, but the following day she collapsed and was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary’s A&E by ambulance.
Stephanie was transferred to the intensive care unit for investigation and underwent a series of tests including a CT scan, blood tests and chest x-rays.
She was diagnosed with sepand sis - when the body attacks itself in response to an infection - and was given antibiotics.
In June that year, surgeons amputated both of her legs below the knee, and then more than two months later nine of her fingers were amputated.
Following the surgeries, Stephanie was referred for rehabilitation and physiotherapy has remained positive during her recovery despite losing her job as a mental health community support worker .
“My life is completely different to two years ago and it has taken a long time for me to get to where I am today. I have to pay towards my care, which has a big impact on my life financially,” she said.
“My lifestyle has changed dramatically and some days I still struggle to come to terms with what’s happened. But I know that nothing can change what I’ve been through, so I’m determined to be as positive as I can and live a full life. I just hope that by speaking out, others in a similar situation can try to be positive and don’t feel they have to go through it alone.”
She has since had further operations to help regain some of the function in her remaining finger, as well as plastic surgery and also uses prosthetic limbs.
However, she remains reliant on help from her partner, Robert, 55, and 35-year-old daughter, Jo, as well as carers which she currently has to pay for.
My life is completely different and it has taken a long time for me to get to where I am today
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