A sporty medical student had both her arms and legs amputated after suffering a suspected bout of the flu – with her life being saved by her quick-thinking housemates who realised her symptoms were in fact a deadly sepsis infection.
Lily McGarry, 23, a third-year medic at Cardiff University, was rushed to A&E with flu-like symptoms in January by her student doctor friends.
The keen athlete from Jersey, who had run 10km just the day before, quickly deteriorated within an hour of arriving at the hospital. She suffered two cardiac arrests and was placed in a medically-induced coma.
Doctors at University Hospital Wales diagnosed Lily with meningococcal septicaemia - a rare and aggressive bacterial infection that can cause rapid organ failure and death if not treated immediately.
Lily's mother Jo Gorrod, who was away in Australia when her daughter fell ill, said she didn't think her daughter would have survived without her housemates.
She said one of them also noticed a rash on Lily's hand – a key sign of meningitis – when they were sitting in A&E.
Jo told MailOnline: 'Lily was incredibly fortunate her two housemates were both also medical students. They were just so aware, kept on top of everything and took her to A&E.
'If they hadn't got there in the time they did then Lily really wouldn't be here today. We were very lucky.
Lily McGarry, 23, a third-year medic at Cardiff University, was rushed to A&E with flu-like symptoms in January by her student doctor friends. Lily's mother Jo Gorrod, who was away in Australia when her daughter fell ill, said she didn't think her daughter would have survived without her housemates (Lily and Jo are pictured together above)
Sporty medical student Lily McGarry (pictured) has been left a quadruple amputee after contracting a life-threatening sepsis infection
Her family say the quadruple amputation was 'devastating' but that she has remained 'unshaken' in her determination to live life to the full
'Lily was presenting with the ordinary symptoms of the flu. She did not have the usual signs of meningitis – pain in her neck, or any kind of lighter vision.
'Then she just crashed within one hour of being in A&E.'
Lily, who also has a first-class degree in Medical Pharmacology, was placed in an induced coma for nearly three weeks.
However, when she woke up, she was told the infection had caused irreversible damage to all four of her limbs.
Surgeons were forced to amputate both of the Lily's legs above the knee and her arms at the elbow in order to save her life.
Jo said she jumped on the first flight back from Australia when she got the call that Lily was critically ill.
She said: 'She was already in an induced coma when we got to the hospital. You are living hourly. It is just indescribable.
'There's a very feel chance you're going to lose your child.
The 23-year-old is a keen fitness enthusiast who enjoys taking part in triathlons
'Lily is still in intensive care but she is still the articulate, funny and intelligent person she has always been.'
Prior to her illness, Lily was an avid swimmer, runner and surfer with her family saying that sport is 'essential' to her happiness.
Lily's mother Jo and sister Tanya set up a GoFundMe to support Lily's recovery and help her take part in the activities she loves once again.
The online fundraiser has already raised more than £44,000 in less than 24 hours, with nearly 1,000 people pledging their support.
Jo continued: 'We want to get her back to living as full an independent life as possible. She's a young woman and she has her full life ahead of her. You want her not to only be able to participate in sport, but have a career.
'She has one first class degree already but she was also a third year studying towards becoming a doctor.
'I think she would like to go back to the medical profession. She was absolutely loving her course and flourishing. She was doing exceptionally well, sort of top end of her year group.
'She still has a huge amount of rehabilitation to do just to get back to having some sort of core strength enough strength to get from a bed into a chair.
'I mean that that would be a big step forward, and she's not there yet. You have to be strong enough to use prosthetics. So there's a very, very long road ahead.'
Lily's family and friends are fundraising to help her get hold of advanced prosthetics so she can return to fitness
Jo said her and Tanya have been absolutely staggered by the response to the GoFundMe and that she also wanted to use it to raise awareness of the devastation meningitis can cause.
She explained that many people born before 2014 have not been fully vaccinated against the deadly B strain of the infection.
Jo said: 'B is not given as a standard as it is very rare but is obviously one of the most threatening forms. I would have liked to have been aware of that, particularly Lily, when she was working in a healthcare setting.
'She had a potentially higher risk of catching meningitis, even though she had had the other vaccines. I would like to get that message to people. Make sure you check your child's records and protect them where possible.'
Jo and Tanya have pledged to use the funds raised from the GoFundMe to support Lily's rehabilitation and recovery.
They wrote on the fundraising page: 'Before her illness, Lily was an avid swimmer, runner, and surfer, and these sports are essential to her well-being and happiness.
'The advanced prosthetics available through private companies will give her the mobility and independence to return to these activities.
'This will not only aid her physical recovery but also allow her to reconnect with the passions that have always brought her joy.
Jo said her and Tanya have been absolutely staggered by the response to the GoFundMe and that she also wanted to use it to raise awareness of the devastation meningitis can cause
'Funds raised here will go directly towards prosthetics, adaptations to living environment, as well as the physiotherapy and rehabilitation necessary for Lily's recovery.
'Any funds not directly used for Lily's care will be donated to Limb Power, a charity that supports amputees and individuals with limb impairments through physical activity, sport, and the arts to enhance their quality of life and aid in lifelong rehabilitation.'
She added: 'Your support will make a world of difference in helping Lily rebuild her life, regain her independence, and pursue her dreams.'
To donate to Lily's GoFundMe page, click here.
SIX MAJOR SIGNS OF SEPSIS
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection.
These chemicals damage the body's own tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death.
Organ failure and death are more likely if sepsis is not recognized early and treated immediately.
Sepsis infects an estimated 55,000 Australians each year, killing between 5,000 and 9,000 making it more than four times deadlier than the road toll.
The symptoms can look like gastro or flu and can become deadly, rapidly.
The six major signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym 'SEPSIS':
- Slurred speech or confusion, lethargy, disorientation
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain, fever or low temperature
- Pressing a rash doesn't make it fade
- Severe breathlessness, rapid breathing
- Inability to pass urine for several hours
- Skin that's mottled or discoloured
Children may also show convulsions or fits, and a rash that doesn't fade when you press it - and more than 40 per cent of cases occur in children under five.
Anyone who develops these symptoms should seek medical help urgently — and ask doctors: 'Could this be sepsis?'
Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing about 10,000 Australians each year
The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, making it difficult to diagnose.
A high temperature (fever), chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators.
A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach.
It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children younger than one, people with chronic conditions or those who have weakened immune systems.
