Woman who thought she had winter virus woke up from coma to find out she needed both legs amputating

A woman who believed she had winter virus was taken to hospital on Christmas Day after going to bed with pain in her side, ultimately resulting in the loss of both of her legs.

Beth Budgen, 46, woke up in the early hours of Christmas Day 2022 in immense pain and vomiting blue liquid.

Her sister, Andrea, called for help and got her to the hospital, where her health issues were diagnosed as flu and pneumonia.

As her organs were failing, the woman was put into a medically induced coma, recalling: “Andrea and Liza [her twin] came to the hospital, and it was all happening so fast. I’d been feeling a bit off on Christmas Eve and now, I was fighting for my life.”

She has been in and out of hospital since the diagnosis (Focus Features)

Doctors had first discovered that she was suffering from Strep A, which then led to sepsis.

Her condition continued to worsen, as she spent New Year's Day in a coma, waking up to news six weeks later that she had sepsis and might lose her legs and hands.

Beth said: “I hadn’t spoken for six weeks, and my first word was: 'Yay!'”

“My sisters were traumatised, they had been by my bedside, the whole time, willing me to pull through. Andrea had kept a diary, which was later really helpful for me, to fill in the missing pieces.

She had both of her legs amputated (Focus Features)

Beth was transferred around eight hospitals in total, as in April 2023. She had a thumb and some fingertips removed, though surgeons were able to save her hands, with a gruelling physio programme helping her make an incredible recovery.

In February this year, she had surgery to remove her legs below the knee and get work done on her damaged lung.

Describing having her legs amputated as a 'traumatic' experience, she said that it 'happened for a reason', as she aims to raise awareness for sepsis.

Beth is determined to raise awareness for sepsis (Focus Features)

Now finally out of hospital, she is walking unaided with her prosthetic legs, while Liza and Andrea, who have supported her, are raising fund for further treatment and equipment needed for her day-to-day life.

The Brit explained that the year has been 'incredibly challenging', stating: “When I’m well enough to work, I would like a role supporting amputees and sepsis survivors.

“This Christmas, the best present will just be to have my family around me. My own story of survival is a true Christmas miracle.”

You can donate to Beth's fundraiser here.

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