Mother misdiagnosed with flu loses legs and fingers to septic shock, a tragic tale of medical oversight
Julianna, who had previously enjoyed good health, began feeling unwell in December. A doctor attributed her condition to typical flu-like symptoms and recommended bed rest.
3:06 PM EST, January 12, 2024
Misdiagnosed, she lost her legs and fingers
Julianna's health did not improve with rest. Instead, she continued to deteriorate to the point where she could not even lift her head. Her concerned husband called an ambulance, and Julianna was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
"Her heart stopped twice within 30 minutes," the victim's sister told "The Sun".
At Withybush General Hospital in Wales, Julianna was diagnosed with dehydration, organ failure, and septic shock. She was placed on a ventilator, induced into a pharmacological coma, and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.
Julianna, now a mother of two fighting for her life, was in a distressingly familiar situation. Her aunt had died from sepsis a few weeks earlier, which prepared the family to confront the worst. The doctors, however, gave her family little hope of recovery.
Subsequent tests revealed that Julianna suffered from pneumonia, the flu, and an invasive Group A streptococcus infection. After spending three weeks in a coma, the doctors finally woke the 44-year-old. Tragically, it was necessary to amputate both her legs and most of her fingers.
Today, Julianna is alive but disabled, unable to eat by herself. However, she has received enormous support from her husband, children, and family. Her loved ones initiated a fundraiser for her on GoFundMe.
"She is doing well, she's very brave," Juliana's sister offered reassuringly.
