A ‘BUBBLY and caring’ woman collapsed suddenly after getting back from holiday – and passed away just 12 hours later.
Laura Hughes, a trainee counsellor from East Anglia, became fatally ill with sepsis in May 2023.
Sepsis ResearchLaura Hughes 37, collapsed in her bathroom the night after returning from holiday in May 2023[/caption]
Sepsis ResearchShe was rushed to hospital where medics found she had sepsis[/caption]
Sepsis ResearchHer condition rapidly deteriorated and she passed away just 12 hours later[/caption]
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to a infection where the immune system rapidly spirals out of control, attacking the body’s own tissues and organs as well as the infection.
More research is needed to understand why this extreme immune response happens in some people.
But it can be hard to diagnose and may be fatal if not treated promptly, as it can develop rapidly in a matter of hours.
Laura, 37, arrived home in Whissonsett, Norwich from a holiday in Lincolnshire.
She felt shivery and unwell that evening and took herself to bed.
Laura went to the bathroom during the night and collapsed – she was found by her housemate lying on the bathroom floor
Her eyes were glazed and staring and she was unable to communicate.
The housemate immediately called an ambulance and got in touch with Laura’s parents to warn them.
“When we heard we were in shock – as far as we knew she’d arrived home with no problems following a lovely holiday with her friend,” her mum and dad, Joan and David Hughes, said.
At this point it was 4.50am – less than 12 hours later Laura had passed away, leaving her parents and sister Emma reeling.
Sepsis can be triggered by bacterial, fungal or viral infection as well as something as minor as an insect bite.
Laura hadn’t been unwell while on holiday, though she may have been bitten on the leg while walking in the woodland – but medics couldn’t find any marks upon examining her.
“Sepsis took our wonderful Laura and deprived the world of a first-class counsellor and a caring soul in the prime of her life,” her parents said.
“Laura was a bright, bubbly and caring person,” they shared through Sepsis Research FEAT, as part of the charity‘s campaign for Sepsis Awareness Month.
Sepsis ResearchLaura may have been bitten by a bug on holiday but medics were unable to find any marks[/caption]
Sepsis ResearchHer family remember Laura as ‘bubbly and bright’[/caption]
“Her aim was always to spread laughter and make a positive difference by helping others.”
Colin Graham, COO at Sepsis Research FEAT, said:“Sepsis is an indiscriminate, devastating illness which takes the lives of around 50,000 people every year in the UK.
“Despite these shocking figures, many people are still unaware of how serious sepsis is.
“That is why raising awareness of this deadly condition is vital, so that more people are able to recognise the symptoms and act quickly to seek urgent medical attention and improve chances of survival.”
‘HOUR-BY-HOUR’
Laura had suffered no ailments while on holiday, but her condition rapidly deteriorated in the hours after an ambulance was called.
Paramedics arrived shortly after she was discovered prone on the bathroom floor by her housemate and her condition was deemed serious enough to warrant an air ambulance.
As it was unable to reach her home due to weather conditions, the fire service arrived to help get Laura downstairs and to the hospital.
She arrived at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital at 7am, around the same time as her parents.
Joan and David recalled: “At this point we knew it was serious but felt she was now in the right place to get the treatment she needed and was going to be alright.
“We didn’t think – or want to think – any more than that.
We had no last conversations with Laura, no final hugs
David and Joan Hughes
“Almost immediately Laura was taken for a scan and that’s when we saw her on the hospital trolley.
“She was lifeless but we both spoke to her saying things like: ‘Hang on Laura, fight it…’
“We felt totally numb – helpless.”
Laura’s sister Emma got to the hospital and paramedics informed the family that Laura was extremely ill and that her condition was life-threatening.
“They told us that we weren’t looking at day-by-day, but at hour-by-hour,” her mum and dad said.
Medics asked if Laura had been bitten by an insect recently or had an infection.
The person she went on holiday told her parents that Laura thought she might have been bitten on the leg during a woodland walk, “but it was nothing that would have caused any concern”.
The hospital was unable to find any marks from bites on her.
FINAL MOMENTS
Laura was placed on life support following her scan.
David and Joan said: “The consultant treating her told us at that point that she could be suffering from meningococcal septicaemia.
“He said that he’d only seen three other cases like Laura’s in terms of the speed and severity of her symptoms.
“The doctors tried a number of different antibiotics, but there was no change in her condition.”
The family was also informed that Laura’s heart had stopped and she’d needed to be resuscitated.
Joan and David’s plea
Following Laura’s passing, Joan and David sought to raise awareness around sepsis.
“We wanted to find a way to prevent others going through the same pain and suffering that our family is still experiencing,” they said.
“The funeral directors made us aware of the charity Sepsis Research FEAT.
“We visited the website and read of the work that the charity does. So instead of floral tributes we asked friends and family for donations in Laura’s memory to go to Sepsis Research FEAT.
“Research into sepsis is paramount to stop this indiscriminate and brutal life taker. Sepsis Research FEAT is leading the way in the UK to find answers.
“[Laura] would be proud to know that through her story she is helping others become sepsis-aware and that hopefully this translates into saving lives.”
You can find the family’s fundraising page here.
As she wasn’t responding to treatment, the monitors in Laura’s room were turned off.
Laura’s parents and sister sat with her, holding her hand, stroking her forehead, speaking to her and signing her favourite songs.
David and Joan said: “We stayed with Laura. We played more music we knew she liked and we stood with our hands resting on her, each saying our final farewells.
“I asked if the tubes and wires could be taken away so I could give her a final hug, but that wasn’t allowed because everything needed to be kept in place in order for staff to carry out their checks.
“We had no last conversations with Laura, no final hugs.”
Laura’s cause of death was recorded as septic shock – the final, most severe form of sepsis – and disseminated intravascular coagulation, a serious disorder that occurs in response to illness or disease, which results in dysregulated blood clotting.
‘ALWAYS WITH US’
Joan and David remember their daughter as a “life connector” who “radiated energy” when she entered a room.
Though she’d worked in entertainment and hospitality, the 37-year-old was coming up to her final year studying for a degree in counselling.
“She was doing well and the college said she would make a brilliant counsellor,” her parents said.
“Laura wanted to help others find peace and some stability in their lives.
“She was fun to be with and others couldn’t help but gravitate towards her.
“She loved to use an array of silly voices and people couldn’t help but laugh and join in with her.
“She had a zest for life and travel and she would want us to live our lives fully and make the most of all that it offers.”
“Laura is always with us,” they said.
They’ve shared their experience with charity Sepsis Research FEAT and have been raising awareness about the illness.
The family planned fundraising and awareness walk along part of the Norfolk coastal path for World Sepsis Day on September 13.
“You never think something like this will happen to you or your family, but it does,” they said.
“It can happen to the nicest of people and it is devastating when it does.
“So make the most of what life has to offer. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.”
Symptoms of sepsis include a rash, nausea and fever – you might not get them all at once
David and Joan shared Laura’s story as part of Sepsis Research FEAT’s campaign to raise awareness about signs and symptoms of sepsis.
Dr Andrew Conway Morris, Medical Director for charity Sepsis Research FEAT and intensive care consultant, is urging people to take immediate action if they suspect sepsis, even if they have previously been sent home by medical professionals.
He said: “As we observe Sepsis Awareness Month this September, Sepsis Research FEAT aims to educate the public, encourage vigilance, and ultimately save lives.
“If you or a loved one feels something isn’t right, trust your instincts and seek medical help immediately.
“You have the right to be heard and to demand the care you need.”
The charity’s COO Colin Graham added: “Sepsis can be hard to recognise and diagnose and symptoms can manifest in many different ways.”
He shared key sepsis symptoms to look out for:
A high or low temperature
Uncontrolled shivering
Confusion
Passing little urine
Blotchy or cold arms and legs
“On their own, some of these symptoms can be an indication of other health problems,” Colin said.
“Someone with sepsis might also not show all of these symptoms at once.
“A combination of two or more symptoms, becoming progressively worse, means medical attention is needed and sufferers should call 999 or go to A&E.”
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
Source: NHS