BBCA brave mum of two who had both her legs and fingers amputated after contracting a horrifying illness is celebrating her first Christmas since coming close to death.
On Christmas Eve last year, Tracy Ralph was rushed into hospital with suspected pneumonia after feeling short of breath during a run, while training for a half marathon.
Unfortunately Tracy was suffering something far worse. She had blood clots and a bleed on the brain.
She went into complete organ failure, forcing doctors to amputate her legs and fingers.
BBCTracy’s husband Brad had the terrible job of telling her that doctors needed to amputate her limbs to save her life and she even tried to escape the hospital when she realised what that would mean.
Now the brave mum is walking again after generous donations from well-wishers, including celebrities such as comedian Alan Carr, former footballer Robbie Savage and Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden, who raised an amazing £230,000 to help her get prosthetic limbs.
The 35-year-old said:
My husband Brad told me I was going to lose my legs but by this stage I couldn’t do anything with my legs…
They were hard, they were heavy and my hands looked so bad I just wanted them to be amputated in order for me to get to the next stage…
I tried to escape and because of all the medication I just pulled the things out and thought ‘where am I, what are they doing, get me out of here’.
BBCNow she will spend Christmas Day this year with her best friend Karla and their families.
She told the BBC :
I was in a very dark place, but within the last couple of months I can see a future… It’s not a future I planned or expected, and of course I will always wish I had my legs and fingers, but I am very thankful I am here…
Christmas this year will be very different… We are finally spending Christmas together, with the people who matter most.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.