Over the Christmas period of 2022, Beth Bugden, a 46-year-old from Hampshire, experienced what initially seemed like a harmless winter cold. However, her condition deteriorated rapidly, and by Christmas morning, she was vomiting blue liquid and experiencing agonizing pain. An ambulance rushed her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with flu and pneumonia. Her condition continued to worsen, and by Boxing Day, she was placed in a medically induced coma as her vital organs began to fail. Beth’s family was told to prepare for the worst. This marked the beginning of a harrowing medical journey that would irrevocably alter Beth’s life.
Unbeknownst to Beth and her family, the underlying cause of her deteriorating health was sepsis, a life-threatening condition arising from the body’s overreaction to an infection. Transferred to St Thomas’ Hospital in London, Beth was placed on an ECMO machine, a form of life support that takes over the functions of the heart and lungs. Further tests revealed she also had Strep A, a common bacterial infection that can exacerbate flu-like symptoms. Beth remained in a coma for six weeks, during which time her family maintained a constant vigil by her bedside, documenting her progress and offering unwavering support.
Upon awakening from the coma, Beth was met with the devastating news that she would likely lose both her legs, and possibly some fingers. The physical repercussions of the sepsis and its complications had taken a severe toll on her body. For two months following her awakening, Beth was unable to speak, further compounding the emotional and physical challenges she faced. However, once she regained her strength, her first words were a testament to the unwavering love and support she received from her family: “Yay! Hello, I love you.”
Beth’s journey to recovery was arduous and marked by multiple surgeries. In February 2023, both her legs were amputated below the knee, and she underwent an operation to repair damage to her right lung. Two months later, she faced further amputations, losing her thumb and most fingers on her right hand, and the fingertips on her left hand. Despite these setbacks, Beth remained remarkably positive, focusing on her rehabilitation and drawing strength from her family and friends. She embarked on an intensive physiotherapy program, determined to regain her mobility and independence.
The support system around Beth played a crucial role in her recovery, both physically and emotionally. Her twin sister, Liza, along with her other sister, Andrea, and stepdaughter, Catty, provided unwavering emotional support. Andrea meticulously documented Beth’s journey in a coma, providing a valuable record for Beth to process the events she had missed. Beth’s five-year-old twin nephews provided moments of levity, referring to her prosthetic legs as “bionic legs,” a term that brought smiles to her face. The constant presence of family and friends during her hospital stay helped maintain her spirits and provided crucial emotional support.
Having spent seven months in eight different hospitals, Beth was finally discharged in July 2023. The experience profoundly affected her, not only physically, but also professionally, as she lost her job due to her employer going into liquidation during her illness. However, Beth emerged from this ordeal with a renewed sense of purpose. She became a trustee for Sepsis Research FEAT, a charity dedicated to raising awareness and funding research for sepsis. Determined to prevent others from suffering a similar fate, Beth now dedicates herself to educating the public about the signs and symptoms of sepsis, a condition that she, her family, and friends had been largely unaware of prior to her experience. She emphasizes the importance of early recognition and treatment, highlighting the potentially devastating consequences of delayed intervention. Beth’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the insidious nature of sepsis and the importance of vigilance in recognizing its symptoms.
