KNOW THE SIGNS
My parents died of a ‘silent killer’ within WEEKS of each other – months later I faced the same fight for life
Plus, the signs of the condition to look out for
A WOMAN whose parents died from sepsis within eight weeks of each other developed the same life-threatening condition just four months later.
Lyndsey Feeney, 45, lost both her parents Archie, 73, and Cathy, 72, to sepsis in April and July 2024.
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She was still grieving them when she was admitted into hospital believing she had a kidney infection.
But she feared she would lose her own life when she was then diagnosed with urosepsis - caused by a urinary tract infection.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition where the body's response to an infection causes widespread inflammation, leading to organ damage or failure.
But Lyndsey has made a recovery after spending five days in hospital.
Read more on sepsis
On disability allowance because of mental health conditions, Lyndsey, from Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, , said: "I was lucky enough to catch mine early.
"But many people like my mother and father aren't so fortunate.
"I think there needs to be more awareness about the illness.
"It was really horrible, losing both of them so close together - I still haven't come to terms with it.
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"To lose them both like that out of nowhere was very crushing, and when I got sepsis I feared I would go the same way."
Lyndsey's dad, Archie, went into hospital when he fell and hurt his arm in April 2024.
I thought I had a winter cold then I woke from a coma about to lose my legs
He was in otherwise good health apart from having vascular disease but deteriorated rapidly.
After six days in the hospital, he developed cellulitis that led to sepsis.
Lyndsey said: "They put him to sleep as he'd become delirious and was pulling out his IVs. We were told he'd wake up, but his organs started shutting down."
Archie passed away on April 26, 2024 from septic shock.
Lyndsey said: "It was awful and very hard to come to terms with."
But barely two months later, her mother, Cathy, fell ill in June 2024.
There needs to be more awareness about the illness
Lyndsey Feeney
Lyndsey explained: "Mum had been very confused and lethargic, so my sister Debbie called an ambulance, but they didn't arrive until nearly 3am."
Cathy was admitted to the hospital and passed away just 16 hours later.
Lyndsey added: "She had severe sepsis, urinary sepsis, and multi-organ failure.
"She'd had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for ten years, but apart from that, she was in reasonably good health."
Lyndsey believes the trauma of Archie's death may have contributed to her mother's rapid decline.
But the infection struck again when she started getting back pain, a high temperature, and had difficulty passing urine in November 2024.
She was admitted to hospital on November 8 and was treated with antibiotics for urosepsis and closely monitored.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
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Lyndsey is now home but still has lingering back pain.
She said: "By the time I came out of the hospital, I felt much better.
"I was really lucky to have caught it early, but I'm still scared it could happen again."
Lyndsey is now calling for greater awareness of the condition.
She said: "They call it the silent killer for a reason. If it's not caught early enough, there's nothing that can be done."
Through her heartbreak and own health struggles, she hopes to spread the message about the importance of recognising the symptoms of sepsis - severe pain, high fever, rapid heart rate, confusion, and lethargy.
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She said: "It's devastating, but if sharing my story can help save someone else, then it's worth it.
"My husband and three children Chloe, 24, William, 21, and Emma, 17, have been so supportive, I couldn't have done it without them."
Who gets sepsis and what causes it?
Sepsis can affect anyone. The condition occurs when the body's immune system has an overeaction to an infection.
As a result, the body attacks itself.
Some people are more likely to get an infection that could lead to sepsis, however.
This includes babies under the age of one, people over 75 years old, people with diabetes or a weak immune system (either due to treatment, a condition or genetically), people who have recently had surgery or given birth.
Any infection can lead to sepsis. But those more likely to are those of:
- Lungs, such as pneumonia.
- Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system
- Digestive system
- Bloodstream
- Catheter sites
- Wounds or burns
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