A dedicated multisport athlete is now getting ready to navigate life lacking her arms and legs after requiring limb loss due to a life-threatening battle with sepsis.
Originally assuming she was battling a typical case of university illness, the medical student from her hometown soon found herself in a critical crisis.
Following being admitted to the hospital, she suffered two cardiac arrests and entered a medically induced sleep, with the subsequent three months remaining a utter void in her memory.
"As you're a young adult, you tend to think, the way I used to, that these kinds of illnesses aren't for you," stated Lily.
The athlete continued, "Young people tend to feel a bit untouchable, and you don't want to stress over your health because you've got a busy schedule to live."
Unexpected Worsening
Described by friends as "a exceptional sportswoman", Lily was deeply enthusiastic about water activities, jogging, and being at the beach.
Yet as she presently lies in her medical facility, she remembers the day her ordinary student lifestyle was flipped upside down.
"I felt a bit under the weather, but I was still continuing my daily life," she explained. "I remained at home with my housemates at uni."
This occurred on the 14th of January, and she chose to go to bed at approximately eleven o'clock, stating, "I believed I'd have a rest and feel better by morning."
Severe Turn of Events
Yet as the night continued, Lily's condition deteriorated quickly.
She added, "A friend noticed my light was still on when she rose in the night, and came to see me."
"I had been sick everywhere and had been experiencing loss of bladder control."
Roommates assisted her and rushed her to the A&E, at which point she observed a redness that was beginning to expand on her body.
Lily was transferred to the resuscitation area, and was still not entirely cognizant of the severity of her condition.
"I managed to walk into A&E and so at that point I assumed I'd just receive some antibiotics and go home the next day," she shared. "Yet in critical care I remember the doctor asking for my mother and father's mobile numbers."
Apart from being in a room filled with doctors and nurses, she has memory of very little after this, until approximately three months later in the spring.
Lily had no idea she had suffered a heart attack, and describes it as "rather surreal" discovering about this from a post her family member had written.
"I don't think I really realised the scale of what had happened until about May when I was beginning to look at my body," she stated. "According to doctors I swiftly went into septic shock."
"My BP was very low and within one day I'd had two myocardial infarctions and was diagnosed with a severe blood infection."
Explaining Sepsis?
Septic shock happens when the body malfunctions to a pathogen, causing the organs to work inefficiently.
It can cause a significant drop in blood pressure and affect the lungs, kidneys, hepatic system and other internal systems.
A key challenges in diagnosing sepsis is that it can manifest very variably in each individual.
Experts identify six primary signs to look out for:
- S - slurred speech or confusion
- E - extreme aching in muscles and bones
- P - passing no fluid in a day
- S - severe difficulty breathing
- I - patients expressing "it feels like I'm going to die"
- S - complexion that's mottled, discoloured or very light
Looking Ahead
"It's a blessing to have undergone removal of my extremities in an age where there's plenty of advanced devices," Lily stated.
She is researching tools such as adaptive bicycles, explaining, "For years I've enjoyed swimming and immersing myself in the water and I'm really eager about the sense of independence I'll have without gravity in the water."
"I am optimistic that can happen soon."
Lily will go home to her hometown in late fall, and is eagerly anticipating reuniting with her family members, visiting the beach and to "recover and reflect on what's happened."
Personal Support
Peers and family are also gathering donations to help provide her as many possibilities as possible, and she shares feeling emotional about assistance from multiple places.
A companion shared how compassionate and caring she is, and how Lily would take additional steps to help others.
"Since she's fallen ill she's just exactly that, she's so upbeat," the friend continued. "Whenever I see her she's making more advancement and thinking about the future, she's so resolute."
"She continues to be the same Lily inquiring after everyone else and showing concern for everyone else."
"Honestly she blows my mind, on each visit I see her, she impresses me with her mindset and her view on life."
