The reaction from my family and the community has been mindblowing. They’ve given me my life back
24 last year, the staff formed a touching guard of honour for her.
She said: “The staff on the ward were amazing and before I left they were like friends.
“I actually didn’t want to leave, it was the only place I had known without my legs and coming home was scary.”
Marguerite initially moved in with her youngest daughter Emma, 19 – but said it was still a “massive reality check”.
She said: “I had learned to do my personal care myself in hospital but when I came home and got into the kitchen I thought I can’t even wring a cloth out.
“It was a realisation of how little I could do at that time – I couldn’t lift a kettle so the first couple of months were really hard.”
With the help of the local community and a fundraising campaign, which raised more than £ 70,000, a new home was built for Marguerite.
It is next door to her daughter Kim Donnachie, 28, who lives with her husband Sean, 34, and their two children seven- year- old Erin and twoyear-old Gracie.
She said: “The reaction from my family, friends, local community – and beyond – has been mindblowing.
“The money was used to help build the house and buy my bed, wheelchair and other equipment I need.
“They have given me my life back in a way – and it is so much appreciated.”
Surgeons managed to save some ability for Marguerite to grasp in her right hand – and her grip has gradually got stronger.
She is determined to be as independent as possible and has learned to adapt to be able to carry out everyday tasks – such as drying her hair, putting makeup on, making coffee and cooking basic foods such as pasta.
She relies on the help of carers in the morning to get dressed and is helped into the shower, but can go to bed herself at night.
Family and friends regularly drop by to help with food provisions and to take her out for coffee, a meal or to the local country park.
She uses an electric wheelchair when she goes out and has an artificial arm.
She said: “There is no way I am ever going to be able to put my own earrings in or sew again – that was my hobby.
“I can sew with a needle and darn some things, which is perseverance and saying I am not going to just take this.
“But I can’t use my sewing machine as I haven’t got two hands to feed it through.”
Last June Marguerite was fitted with artificial legs, which means she can walk a few steps at a time.
However they are currently too big for her and she is hoping they will be refitted in the next couple of weeks so she can progress her walking further.
She added: “I look normal compared to how I was in the beginning, which makes me feel good.
“But when you take parts of your body off at night and have them by the side of the bed – you are thinking is this real, it can’t be real.
“It is horrific and it is never going to go away – but it is how you cope with it. A sense of humour does help you through it.”
Over the past year, she has had to deal with a series of anniversaries bringing back memories which she had “put on hold”.
Over Christmas and New Year, the family went to Florida to visit Disneyland and Universal Studios, as Marguerite could not face the festive season at home.
She said: “It was massive – in my head I was thinking I don’t want to be at home, I want to be out of here. Then the night before I was thinking what have I done.
“On Christmas Day we got up and were busy and didn’t have time to think of what it had been like the year before. It was a massive achievement and made me realise I can do it.”
Last week brought another milestone, with her 56th birthday on Friday.
She said: “This time last year I couldn’t open my presents myself and the first time I had left the ward was on my birthday.
“We went for a coffee, but I said I would only go if they wrapped me in a blanket so no-one could see my arms and legs.”
She added: “I think I have learned to live with it, but I don’t think I will ever accept it, it is too big.
“I know I have come on a lot – I need to find a purpose now and that is what my focus will be.
“And I know I am lucky as I am still here.”
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A campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the hidden killer sepsis.
The initiative aims to make everyone aware of the early signs of the life-threatening condition with the message that “every hour counts” when it comes to surviving.
It urges people to seek help if they notice any combination of five symptoms: very high or low temperature; uncontrolled shivering; confusion; cold or blotchy hands and feet, and not passing as much urine as normal.
Sepsis can develop after a minor injury or infection, regardless of age or fitness.
It is caused by the immune system over-reacting to an infection which causes inflammation which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.
It is one of the few diseases that can kill a person who is healthy within just a few hours.
The campaign, launched by the Scottish Government, highlights how sepsis claims more deaths every year than lung cancer or breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined. It also causes a quarter of UK maternal deaths.
The campaign is backed by charity Sepsis Research, which was founded by Craig Stobo after the death of his wife Fiona and unborn daughter Isla from the illness.
He said: “Educating people will help prevent potentially tragic consequences.”
Visit nhsinform.scot/ sepsis for details.