With World Sepsis Day behind us, our client Stan
explains why you should be alert all year round.
Globally, sepsis claims six million lives a year. Yet with early
diagnosis, it’s easily treatable. Thankfully, our client Stan
is still here to tell his story, but his battle back to health is a
reminder of the dangers of such a debilitating disease.
Stan and sepsis
Bench-pressing nearly 150 kilos and not having visited a
doctor for 20 years, Stan Burkett-Coltman, of Berkhamsted,
Hertfordshire, was the picture of health. So when he started
experiencing pain in his left arm and blurred vision, nothing
could prepare him for the chain of events that would unfold.
Within days, he would be in hospital battling sepsis.
Onset and diagnosis
Stan, a self-employed insolvency
practitioner, visited the A&E department
at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury.
He complained about his blurred vision and
also told staff he had experienced pain in
his left arm and had been feeling unwell for
a week.
He was discharged and told to make a hospital appointment
with regards to his eye. The following day he woke to find his
vision had deteriorated. Stan contacted his optician who told
him to go to hospital.
Doctors initially believed he may have a cornea infection.
The following day he was diagnosed with bacterial infection
group A streptococcus.
Stan was transferred to another hospital for specialist
treatment and, whilst doctors were able to save his life, they
couldn’t save his eye.
He spent around two weeks in hospital afterwards but things
did not suddenly get better. Stan recalls: “I was really weak
and, whereas before I was training for a Half Ironman event
and bench-pressing 150 kilos, now it took me around 40
minutes just to walk a mile.”
Raising awareness
Stan remains optimistic and now wants to use his experience
to help others. He added: “You only get one crack at life and
so I want to make the most of it. Yes, I’ve
lost an eye, but there are many others out
there who have not been as fortunate.
“I’m now passionate about helping
people be more aware of sepsis and how
dangerous it can be. I have beaten sepsis
and I’m going to get others to beat it.
“If I can save one person’s life, I can save somebody else’s
world.”
Stan spoke out during World Sepsis Day, which is run by The
UK Sepsis Trust, a fantastic charity that we are proud to work
with.
The UK Sepsis Trust exists to fight this life-threatening condition, stop preventable deaths and support those affected by sepsis.
You can find out more at sepsistrust.org
Turning Point – Winter 2018
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