A quadruple amputee who lost all four limbs to sepsis had an emotional reunion with the doctors who saved her life.

Kim Smith returned to Milton Keynes University Hospital to thank the ICU team for saving her life after she caught sepsis in 2018.

The 61-year-old visited the hospital with daughters Gemma Simpkins, 34, and Becki Campbell, 33, to present staff with a celebration cake made by professional baker Becki as a thank-you for the incredible treatment she received while under their care five years ago.

An active supporter of Sepsis Research FEAT, Kim was also joined by the charity’s chief operating officer Colin Graham ahead of its 10th anniversary on May 1, 2023.

Kim contracted sepsis in November 2017 while on holiday in Alicante with husband, Steve.

After visiting a nearby hospital when she took unwell suddenly, Kim was initially sent home.

24 hours later, Kim’s condition had deteriorated so much that she was rushed back to hospital at 4am where staff told her family that she might die.

After six weeks of being on life support in a medically induced coma, Kim’s travel insurance finally agreed to send an air ambulance team from Germany to take her back to the UK for treatment.

She was relocated to the ICU at Milton Keynes University Hospital where she remained in a coma for the next three weeks.

When Kim woke up she was told her arms and legs had turned black and would have to be amputated once her condition was stable.

Kim said: “I‘m a sepsis survivor thanks to Milton Keynes University Hospital. Without their amazing care I don’t think I’d be alive!

"I’m passionate about raising awareness of sepsis and work tirelessly to do so to help save lives.

"This visit celebrates everything Sepsis Research FEAT has done in the last 10 years. I’m proud to be a part of their journey by helping to raise awareness of sepsis and I support their research to help save lives. It’s a privilege and honour!

“I always say to everyone now: if you have an infection, think sepsis. Watch for the symptoms and if you get any of them then trust your gut and seek urgent medical treatment.”

The amputation was carried out in one operation at Bedford Hospital and was followed by a gruelling two-and-a-half years of recovery.

Since then, Kim has done a parachute jump, been rock climbing, abseiling and bungee jumping and she’s now on the list for a double hand transplant which she says will drastically improve her life and independence. 

Colin said: “Kim is one of the most passionate supporters that we have and we are incredibly grateful for the work that she does to increase understanding of this brutal illness. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without people like Kim who work tirelessly to help us raise awareness of sepsis.

“Sepsis can affect anyone and patients deteriorate rapidly so it’s important that everyone knows the symptoms and can act quickly to get medical treatment.”

The five key symptoms of sepsis are:

  • Confusion
  • Not passing as much urine as normal
  • Very high or low temperature
  • Uncontrolled shivering
  • Cold or blotchy arms and legs

This year, to recognise the charity’s decade of raising awareness of sepsis and funding research into the condition, Sepsis Research FEAT has launched a fundraising campaign called ‘Give Us 10!’ which invites supporters to give 10 of something – it could be 10 minutes or hours of fundraising, covering 10 miles on land or water, or raising or donating £10, £1,000 or even £10,000.

To find out more about Sepsis Research FEAT and Give Us 10!, visit www.sepsisresearch.org.uk/10th-anniversary/#give-us-ten.