In the words of others, 23 year old Cardiff University medical student, Lily M, is a talented swimmer and exceptional triathlete who ‘always came to training with a smile’ (her Jersey swim club coach Nathan), is ‘kind, thoughtful, active and positive’ (her stepsister Tanya) and is ‘genuinely the kindest, most selfless person I’ve ever met’ (her close friend and housemate Ella). 

The best person to tell her story of sepsis, though, is Lily herself. She has very kindly agreed to do so now, still in the thick of treatment and rehab, to make others of her age aware of the very real dangers of sepsis. 

One morning in January of this year (2025) – during my third year of graduate entry medicine at Cardiff – I woke up with a sore throat and a bit of a cough. I’d run 10k the day before so I didn’t think it was anything dramatic – just a normal winter bug. But over the next few days everything went downhill fast. On the 14th, my housemates Ella and another friend insisted on taking me to hospital because they could see that my “flu” symptoms were getting worse. 

Once I got to the University Hospital of Wales my symptoms worsened suddenly and dramatically – I developed a rash that started creeping up my neck – and from that point on things spiralled. I was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia, and shortly afterwards suffered the first of two cardiac arrests, before being placed in a meically induced coma for two weeks. For the first few days, the ICU staff told my family that I was the sickest patient in the whole hospital – and that’s in a place with thousands of in-patients. 

When I finally woke up, I found out that Meningococcal Septicaemia had developed into septic shock which had caused my blood pressure to become dangerously low, cutting off circulation to my limbs and major organs. The team had thought that I was beginning to show signs of recovery, but an MRI revealed damage to my brain, spleen and liver, leaving the long-term prognosis uncertain. I was moved to Swansea and, with the amazing support of the plastics team at Morriston Hospital, I had surgery to amputate both legs below the knees and both arms through the elbows.  

Initially that was clearly a huge shock. I think it was possibly worse for my friends and family than it was for me. I was so well medicated that I simply replied to the news by saying, ‘Yes, OK. I understand. That makes sense’. It was only later when I came down from ITU that I began to process what had happened. Fortunately I have had help from a psychologist to process everything. There are still days when I look at the scarring and my legs though and feel grief about how they look now compared to the way they were before. 

I then spent months in the Welsh Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit in Swansea, before needing further surgery on my left leg in July due to a blood clot. Finally, I moved back to a rehab centre in Cardiff in early August. I’m hoping that after about three months there, I’ll be able to go back to Jersey for some proper rest at home. It will be nice to be closer to my friends, who have been brilliant coming to see me in Swansea over the last few months. 

My friends and family and the community back home in Jersey have been unbelievable – my family have basically lived in south Wales since the start of the year. My mum and stepsister Tanya set up a fundraiser to help fund prosthetics and the adaptations that I will need to my living environment, as well as the physiotherapy and rehabilitation necessary for my recovery. Part of their aim was to allow me get back to some of the things I love — running, swimming and surfing — though I know that’s going to take a lot of time and effort. People have already generously donated almost £450,000, which is just incredible. There have been sponsored swims, a run, even a concert at Georgetown Methodist Church in Jersey, with my lovely schoolfriend Julia performing. 

I have yet to find out whether I will be able to continue my studies in medicine, on the basis of being able to demonstrate the core competencies required to qualify as a doctor. I know nothing can give me back my limbs or the life I expected to have, but I’m trying to focus on what’s ahead.  

My key message to other students would be to look out for each other. Starting university is hard enough without having to think about illnesses. Simply learning the symptoms of sepsis could save yours or a fellow student’s life though. Try to ensure that you check your vaccination history with your GP before starting term, and if you haven’t been vaccinated against things like Meningitis or MMR, make sure you do so ASAP. Finally, I’d recommend that if you drink alcohol just consider whether the way you feel really is just a hangover…are you really feeling yourself? 

Charity Comment 

Lily’s story is still ongoing. She would be the first to acknowledge that she faces many ongoing challenges as she continues her recovery from sepsis, and that it is still early days. Her positive nature and determination, bringing those around her along with her, shines through. 

Lily has been so generous in sharing her story with Sepsis Research FEAT at this stage. It illustrates very clearly one of this charity’s key messages to students and young people – that as you start to move away from home and take responsibility for your own health, it is so important to ensure that you are vigilant about apparently common infections and symptoms of illness – in yourself and others. It is doubly important to look out for those around you in your new social groups and study settings. It was Lily’s housemates who observed her symptoms and got her help, almost certainly saving her life in the process. They recognised that the supposedly flu-like symptoms she was suffering were deteriorating rapidly and markedly and knew that they needed to act fast.  

Lily’s story also highlights the need to ensure that students have access to medical care – via registration with a GP and dentist. Above all she and her family want to ensure that in future all students are appropriately vaccinated, particularly against Meningitis B. Checking this before you leave home could potentially be life-saving. 

You can read another story of Meningococcal Septicaemia in a student – Becca’s story – here. Lily’s experience and that of others demonstrates that cases like hers still occur too often and can be life-changing and life-threatening. The work that this charity does to raise awareness and, crucially, to fund sepsis research is essential to making sure that lives are saved and outcomes optimised for sepsis patients. 

Sepsis Research FEAT could not be more grateful to Lily and her family for their generosity in helping this charity spread of awareness of sepsis amongst the student-age population. We wish her all the very best as she continues her recovery and we look forward to staying in touch in the future.