Our Joanies’s Story

Our wonderful Joanie passed away on the 1st August 2019 after a battle with Sepsis.

Mum had just turned 65 two weeks beforehand. Mum hadn’t been well on and off for a few weeks but had problems with her thyroid that had flared up again. She had been to the doctor and was on medication and told to wait it out and would return to normal eventually. Mum never really recovered from that though and to this day we don’t really know if it also played a part in her passing. Mum also had Cellulitis unknown to us until she was in hospital and that was put as the cause of her getting Sepsis. We had a doctor’s appointment made for the 26th July because she didn’t seem to improve from the Thyroid problems, however that morning before the appointment mum became worse.

She seemed not with it, like she was short of breath and was cold even though it was warm. Mum insisted she was fine but I called an ambulance. I didn’t even know what to say was exactly wrong as all the symptoms were vague symptoms. When they came mum answered all their questions and suddenly seemed with it again and left with them saying love ye and see ye soon.

However, when we arrived to the hospital after her, we were taken to a side room to be told she took a turn when she arrived and had Sepsis and wouldn’t make the night. Too much damage had been done.

Mum fought on for 5 days before slipping away. Mum was a popular lady, a very colourful personality who loved life. Always with the makeup, shoes and jewellery. She loved Christmas and would be planning it for months. It’s not easy to share or read but if mum had survived, she would have lost some of her fingers. We wouldn’t have cared if it meant having her but I know it would have affected her. Sepsis is cruel and life changing and our lives haven’t been the same since. The world is a duller place without our Joanie. We wish we knew back then what we know now.

Mum’s symptoms included, not with it/confused, cold and short of breath. If you’re unwell and not improving ask yourself if it could be Sepsis. If you have a cut or wound that isn’t getting better, ask yourself could it be Sepsis.

#thinkofjoanie #alwaysaskcoulditbesepsis