A woman from Berkshire who lost both legs to sepsis after initially thinking she had a cold is warning others to be aware of the condition's subtle signs. Beth Budgen, 46, from Newbury, fell ill on Christmas Eve but her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to organ failure and amputation.
Ms Budgen was rushed to A&E in Basingstoke after vomiting blue liquid on Christmas Day. Doctors placed her in an induced coma for six weeks, and her family was told to prepare for the worst. She had contracted flu, pneumonia, and strep A, which led to sepsis.
When she emerged from the coma, her feet were black, and surgeons amputated both legs at Southampton General Hospital. Parts of her hands were also removed. Despite the trauma, Ms Budgen said she considers herself lucky and has always been an optimistic person.
Returning home has been challenging. On her first night alone, she forgot her medication downstairs after a 30-minute trip upstairs, leading to her first meltdown. She is determined to use prosthetic legs but finds the process exhausting.
Ms Budgen's family has launched a campaign to raise funds for home adaptations and bespoke prosthetic legs. She urged the public to educate themselves on sepsis symptoms, saying, 'If this happened to me, it can happen to anyone that you love.'
