When Lily McGarry was rushed to hospital on 14 January, it was thought she was just suffering from flu-like symptoms.
However, the Cardiff University medical student ended up spending two weeks in a coma and woke up to be told all four of her limbs needed to be amputated, with her family and friends now raising money to support her.
The ‘kind, thoughtful, active and positive’ 23-year-old had been diagnosed with a ‘severe and aggressive’ infection and suffered two cardiac arrests.
Lily had meningococcal septicaemia, a bacterial infection that can lead to organ failure and even death if not treated promptly. The sporty student rapidly worsened into septic shock at the hospital.
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Her family say she ‘fought for her life’ and thankfully began to show signs of recovery after two weeks in the coma.
However, an MRI revealed multiple brain, spleen and liver infarcts ‘leaving the long-term effects uncertain’.
The infection caused severe blood flow issues and meant that after waking from her coma, Lily found out she had to undergo surgery to ‘shorten all four limbs’.
As her family raise money to ensure the ‘the best chance for recovery and the opportunity to pursue her dreams’, she has now been left a quadruple amputee 'above her knees and through her elbows’.
“While this is a devastating situation, her strength and determination remain unshaken,” they write on GoFundMe.
At the time of writing, over £215,000 has been raised by over 5,000 people generously donating to support the student.
The fundraiser explains: “Before her illness, Lily was an avid swimmer, runner, and surfer, and these sports are essential to her well-being and happiness.
"The advanced prosthetics available through private companies will give her the mobility and independence to return to these activities.”
They hope that this will not only help her physical recovery ‘but also allow her to reconnect with the passions that have always brought her joy’.
“Funds raised here will go directly towards prosthetics, adaptations to living environment, as well as the physiotherapy and rehabilitation necessary for Lily’s recovery,” they add.
Any extra money not directly used for Lily’s care are set to be donated to the charty Limb Power, supporting ‘amputees and individuals with limb impairments through physical activity, sport, and the arts’.
In a recent update, it is explained that just one prosthetic leg ‘exceeds £100,000’ as they are also undertaking adaptations to make Lily’s home accessible.
Thanking the thousands of donors, they added the goal has now been set to £250,000.
“This will allow us to support her rehabilitation across multiple areas—from essential equipment and therapies to long-term adaptations that will give her the best possible quality of life,” they explain.
You can donate to help Lily rebuild her life here.
Jess Battison