A young mother-of-two has revealed how she nearly died in her own bed after dismissing deadly sepsis as a bout of winter flu, with her quick-thinking young sons ultimately saving her life.
From 'Under the Weather' to Septic Shock
Roberta Alisauskaite, a 27-year-old mental health nurse from Carmarthenshire in South West Wales, first began to feel unwell in October. She initially put her symptoms down to a common cold, possibly caught from her workplace. Alongside flu-like feelings, she was also managing an abscess in a wisdom tooth and was taking a course of antibiotics.
Her condition, however, rapidly worsened over several days. She developed a severe cough, began shaking uncontrollably, and her temperature soared. Despite feeling dreadful, Roberta tried to 'power through' her duties caring for her two boys, Sean Haughey, 8, and Koby Haughey, 6. The dramatic turning point came on October 20.
"I woke up and I was really flushed and I was so hot, my whole face was covered in sweat," Roberta recounted. "I was wrapped up in bed with the heating on but I was shaking. It made me go a bit delirious." Her body was, in fact, entering septic shock, a life-threatening medical emergency.
Children's Quick Actions Save a Life
After attempting to cool down, Roberta went to lie down with her sons. It was then that the boys noticed something was terribly wrong. Their mother began slurring her words before becoming unresponsive. Showing immense presence of mind, her eldest son Sean immediately called 999 and told the operator his "mummy wasn't well".
Roberta's mother arrived home and took over the emergency call. Faced with an estimated three-hour wait for an ambulance, she made the crucial decision to drive her daughter to hospital herself, later saying she "couldn't watch her daughter die in front of her eyes".
In hospital, Roberta's temperature was recorded at a dangerous 40.2°C. Medical staff found her so hot to the touch that it felt like their gloves were burning. She underwent a series of tests including a chest x-ray, CT scan, and an ultrasound in an effort to locate the source of the infection.
The Lasting Trauma and a Vital Warning
Roberta was discharged from hospital on October 23. While the precise source of the infection was not confirmed, a consultant suggested the combination of a viral illness and her dental issue may have been the trigger.
The ordeal has left a deep emotional impact on her family. "Both my boys were traumatised as they tried to wake me up," Roberta said, highlighting the hidden cost of her survival. She herself was terrified to fall asleep afterwards, fearing she might not wake up.
Now, Roberta is determined to raise awareness about the signs of sepsis, supported by information from the UK Sepsis Trust. She wants others to know that what seems like a common cold or flu can sometimes be far more serious.
"As mums we just get on with it as we have our children to look after. We always power through," she said. "If I was left any longer, I could have died. It's hard to look back on because that day could have ended very differently." Her story is a stark reminder that symptoms like slurred speech, extreme shivering, breathlessness, and confusion require urgent medical attention.
