Students urged to verify meningitis vaccinations in light of plea from quadruple amputee
Lily McGarry, a medical student from Jersey, has shared her harrowing experience with meningitis and sepsis in a message on social media, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and awareness.
McGarry, a former student at Jersey College for Girls, contracted meningococcal septicaemia in January and had all her limbs amputated. She is now recovering and encouraging others to take the necessary precautions.
Symptoms in adults can include blotchy or cold arms and legs, very high or low temperature, uncontrollable shivering, confusion, reduced urination, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and severe pain. The Sepsis Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and awareness of sepsis, encourages the public to familiarise themselves with these signs.
Sepsis is the body's extreme response to infection, which can lead to multiple organ failure and remains the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. The type of bacteria that caused McGarry's illness is not specified in the text.
McGarry is urging students to stay up to date with Sepsis Research feeds and check their vaccination history with their GP before Freshers' Week this September. She emphasized that many students beginning higher education this month may be unvaccinated against meningitis B, as the meningitis and septicaemia vaccine was only introduced in 2015.
The public can donate to support McGarry's recovery through an online fundraising page. Islanders have organized a series of fundraising events, including sporting challenges, concerts, and bake sales, to help support her.
The Sepsis Trust's website provides further information about the disease and its symptoms. The UK charity Sepsis Research has also shared McGarry's message, encouraging the public to support her and to learn more about sepsis.
McGarry's family has asked the public not to contact her directly. Anyone wishing to support her recovery can donate online through her fundraising page. She is a shining example of resilience and determination, and her message serves as a reminder to prioritize health and safety in these challenging times.
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