Mum almost died after tiny spot on her arm triggered deadly sepsis
A MUM-of-three almost died and spent three weeks in a coma after a tiny spot on her elbow triggered deadly sepsis.
Beverley Gardner, 51, first noticed the spot in September but didn’t think it was anything to worry about.
Within days it developed into sepsis, which later triggered a stroke and pneumonia, taking her to the brink of death.
Beverley, from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, said: “The doctors told my daughters three times that I wasn’t going to make it.
“I can’t imagine how terrifying it was for them, but somehow, I’m still here.
“Everyone says it’s a miracle that I went into that hospital so poorly, and still came out alive.”
A few days after Beverley noticed the spot it began to swell and burn.
She started to feel increasingly unwell and was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, where quick-thinking medics realised she was suffering from sepsis.
Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive and attacks itself in response to infection.
Doctors cut away the infected tissue on her arm in a bid to save her life.
She was put in an induced coma for three weeks, her life hanging in the balance, as her daughters Ashley, 33, Hayley, 30 and Nina, 26, stayed by her bedside.
“I can’t fault the doctors and nurses. They were absolutely amazing,” said Beverley.
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“For a while, there was talk of amputation, but thankfully, they didn’t have to do that.”
The usual symptoms of sepsis include a high temperature, chills, nausea, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat, but Beverley only had the spot on her arm.
“I’d heard of sepsis before and knew it was a killer, but had no idea at this point that it was happening to me,” she said.
Because Beverley was diagnosed so quickly she had a fighting chance at survival.
While in the coma she suffered a stroke but hasn’t been left with any lasting effects.
Coming round three weeks later, the first thing she saw was her daughters, who had hardly left her side since the ordeal began.
Beverley has had to learn to walk again and has taken time off work.
“At first, I just couldn’t understand why I couldn’t move,” she said.
“I had to learn to walk all over again.”
Beverley was later moved from intensive care to the plastic surgery ward, where she had skin grafts using flesh from her leg to patch up her arm.
She was allowed home earlier this month after nine weeks in hospital.
She has lost the hearing in her right ear and the use of her right hand but is having physiotherapy to build up her strength.
Beverley hopes that by sharing her story she can help warn others about deadly sepsis.
“People need to know what to look for, because it comes on so quickly,” she said.
“My body has been through so much, I get quite tearful when I think about it.
“My girls have been amazing, though. They come round and help all the time.
“I still struggle with day-to-day tasks. I can’t get myself dressed – but I’m here. And that’s all that matters.”
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Beverley’s daughter Hayley Mallen said: “I didn’t know much about sepsis before this year, but everyone should be aware of it.
“What we thought was a small infection turned out to be something much worse.
“After she survived surgery, we got told she also had strep A and probably wouldn’t make it, then she had the stroke followed by pneumonia.
“It was like one step forward, two steps back, but we sat by her bedside every day and she pulled through. We are so proud of what a strong, amazing lady she is.”
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