Sepsis survivor home after 7-month inpatient stay
The husband of a Black Country woman who needed a quadruple amputation after contracting sepsis has paid tribute to the “life-saving” care of NHS staff.
Manjit Sangha has finally returned to her Penn home after a total of more than seven months in New Cross, Russells Hall and Moseley Hall hospitals. Ongoing support will be delivered post-discharge by BCHC's prosthetics and amputee service and access to communication and technology team.
At the invitation of Manjit and husband Kam, the discharge was filmed for local BBC news.
Doctors believed that Manjit's condition was probably caused by a dog's saliva, possibly when licking a small open wound.
Kam says that when Manjit felt unwell last July, the 56-year-old took some paracetamol and went to bed, assuming she simply had a cold.
But the next day, her condition had severely worsened and she was rushed to New Cross Hospital.
“Her body was very cold - what had happened was septic shock was making her blood clot, stopping her circulation,” he said.
“She was put on life support and only given days to live. She suffered six cardiac arrests over three days in intensive care; no-one thought she was going to make it.”
After four weeks in intensive care at New Cross Hospital, Manjit spent nearly four months at Russells Hall Hospital. She underwent a below-knee amputation of both legs in October, and of her hands in January; she also lost her spleen and battled pneumonia and gallstones.
In late November, Manjit was transferred to the inpatient neurological rehabilitation unit (INRU) at Moseley Hall (which also cares for patients with complex rehabilitation needs other than neurological conditions). Manjit and Kam are pictured, left, at a party arranged by hospital staff so that friends and family could be with Manjit on her 56th birthday.
Now, after 12 weeks of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychiatric support, Manjit has finally returned home and the couple want to tell their story to raise awareness of the risks and the warning signs of sepsis.
A GoFundMe appeal has raised more than £22,000 towards Manjit's future care, with any surplus to be donated to amputee and limb disability charity Positive Bones.
“I'd just like to say a really big 'thank you' to all the doctors, nurses and therapists who have helped Manjit on her journey back home and for the kindness of so many people in the community who have supported us,” said Kam.
“All the staff at all the hospitals were so caring, looking after her emotional as well as physical needs. When the transfer to Moseley Hall fell on my birthday, the nurses at Russells Hall supplied cakes and a card for her to give me so we could celebrate it together.
“And when it was Manjit's birthday over Christmas, the staff at Moseley Hall organised a surprise 'do' for her. Nothing was too much trouble.”
“We had very little hope she would pull through; but the care at every one of the hospitals was brilliant. They really were life-savers.
“It's very strange to think back on the journey we've been on, when at first we thought it was just a cold; around 48,000 people a year die of sepsis and it has to be treated as a medical emergency. We're very luck to still have Manjit with us.”
Occupational therapist Selina Wilson said Manjit's rehabilitation journey had been supported with a multidisciplinary combination of specialist professional care.
“Manjit is a good example of the life-changing effects of sepsis,” said Selina. “She has received a combination of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology and nursing input, with the team working carefully with her to set realistic rehabilitation goals and to prepare her for life at home, with Kam's support.”
Signs of sepsis
Key warning signs to look for include acting confused or slurred speech, severe muscle pain, pale/blotchy/blue skin, a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed against it and not urinating all day. If you suspect sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E immediately.