It all began as simple discomfort: back pain, nausea, a strange wheezing sound when breathing. A doctor told Stephanie Harrop, 64, a resident of Greetland in the United Kingdom, that she probably had a virus. A day later, she collapsed and arrived by ambulance at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
Tests revealed sepsis. She fell into a coma for a week and a half, and when she opened her eyes, her hands and feet were completely black. In June 2019, both of her legs were amputated below the knee. Months later, on September 5, surgeons removed nine of her ten fingers.
She was hospitalized for seven consecutive months, lost her job as a mental health caregiver, and now relies on an electric wheelchair and the people around her for simple tasks, such as walking her dog. Even so, she insists on one thing: she wants to live a full life, and she wants no one else to face this alone.
