Levi Dewy’s life was turned upside down when, as a fit and healthy 20-year-old, he had to undergo amputation of both legs after finding out his ‘flu’ was sepsis. This happened in December 2022 where he woke with symptoms including sore throat, body aches and a fever. He took cold and flu medication which failed to ease his symptoms.

His mother decided that he needed to be taken to hospital to be checked over, being concerned that his breathing just “wasn’t right”. On attendance at the Royal Derby Hospital, her mum’s instinct was correct as it transpired that he was suffering from septic shock and was experiencing multiorgan failure.

Whilst at Royal Derby Hospital, he was diagnosed with pneumococcal pneumonia which isa serious bacterial infection and is known to cause pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. He was transferred to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, where he was placed in a medically induced coma along with placing him on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) which is a machine that acts as lungs outside the body, allowing the blood to pass through tubes to the artificial lungs and giving the individuals lungs time to repair. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – Overview | Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Unfortunately, the sepsis was too advanced and resulted in both Levi’s legs being amputations below the knee, in order to save his life. This was carried out just 2 days before his 21st birthday. His parents had been told he would only have a 30% chance of survival but against all odds, Levi pulled through and began the long process of rehabilitation, adjusting to life as a double amputee.

He eventually awoke from his coma after Christmas in 2022 and describes his life being “flipped upside down”, now needing to wrap his head around spending the rest of his life without his legs. Levi, who is now 23, has had to learn how to walk again, using prosthetic legs, and has had to learn how to drive using hand controls rather than foot controls. We work regularly with patients who have suffered amputations such as Levi’s and have witnessed the determination and effort that is required to relearn day to day tasks after an amputation.

Levi and his parents are trying to raise awareness of Sepsis, particularly in young people, so that they can help others to know the warning signs and seek medical help before going into septic shock and experiencing such life changing events as those suffered by Levi. Like many people, Levi and his parents had not realised that sepsis can affect young people; they had thought it was something that affected the elderly or if you have suffered a cut which becomes infected. They have since learnt how dangerous sepsis can be in

younger people, as their immune systems are typically stronger and less vulnerable and so can mask the symptoms of sepsis at first.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to an infection triggers widespread inflammation. This can be hard to diagnose and can present like a flu or chest infection but can also include symptoms of blue, grey pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue, acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense, a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it and difficulty breathing. Because this is a body’s response to infection, you cannot catch sepsis from another person.

Sepsis needs to be treated quickly to ensure it does not cause significant damage. Antibiotics are usually provided in hospital within 1-6 hours of arriving to the hospital. If this is not treated, it can turn into septic shock, much like in Levi’s case, and can cause organ failure, the need for limb amputation or even death.

Anyone can get sepsis; however, some people can be more vulnerable including: Who can get sepsis – NHS

• babies under 1, particularly if they’re born early (premature) or their mother had an infection while pregnant
• people over 75
• people with diabetes
• people with a weakened immune system, such as those having chemotherapy treatment or who recently had an organ transplant
• people with a genetic disorder that affects their immune system, such as people with Down’s syndrome or sickle cell disease
• people who have recently had surgery or a serious illness
• women who have just given birth, had a miscarriage or had an abortion

Our team at Williamsons have a wealth of knowledge on infection and sepsis. If you have concerns in relation to the treatment received by you or a loved one concerning sepsis, whether or not it involved amputation, please feel free to contact us at Williamsons on 01482 323697 to discuss how we can help.