Warning: Graphic Content
A mum-of-two had to have both her legs and a hand amputated after doctors reportedly mistook a deadly sepsis infection for asthma.
Lydia Galbally, 41, had been experiencing a chesty cough and had been wheezing for quite some time, which doctors put down to asthma and a series of common chest infections.
However, Lydia fell critically ill in September 2018, eventually being diagnosed with sepsis, acute pneumonia, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
The 41-year-old was rushed to hospital after her health rapidly deteriorated, and her husband Dan was told her body was in septic shock. Lydia was then transferred to another hospital who were better equipped to help her after her organs began failing and she went into respiratory failure.
It was at this hospital, the Royal Papworth in Cambridge, that Lydia was put into an induced coma, with doctors holding out little hope for the mum’s recovery. Despite this, against all odds, she began to recover and Lydia woke up from the coma 11 days later.
But her battle wasn’t over, and the 41-year-old soon found herself facing the consequences of the sepsis as both feet, hands, and the tip of her nose were covered in dry gangrene.
Tragically, part of the treatment for sepsis was to restrict the blood flow to Lydia’s hands and feet, and the risk of infection to the open wounds in her hands and feet meant the mum-of-two had to make the heartbreaking decision to allow doctors to amputate.
Both her legs were amputated below the knee, with her right hand getting amputated at the wrist. Lydia’s left hand required amputation to each finger and the tip of her thumb too.
Lydia’s husband Dan has since set up a GoFundMe page dedicated to raising funds for new prosthetics which will allow Lydia to get her independence back.
Dan is raising money for both left and right leg prosthetics, a right hand bionic prosthetic, a left-hand cosmetic prosthetic, ongoing maintenance for the prosthetics, private physiotherapy, plus home and car adaptations.
Dan explained:
Naturally, I want Lydia to regain the best possible quality of life she can obtain, she deserves it. I know her better than anyone does, and she will be incredibly determined to turn her situation into a success story for both her own benefit and for the benefit of inspiring others.
To make sure Lydia can get back to what she loves doing, she is going to need the best leg, arm and hand prosthetics that the money we raise can buy.
Having done a lot of research, we have seen there are many amazing prosthetics that will help Lydia achieve her goals. We hope to afford the best combination of functionality and cosmetic appearance.
More than £91,000 of the £250,000 target has already been raised in just five days since the page was set up.
Our thoughts are with Lydia and her family as they embark upon this journey together.
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).