Julianna Bransden: How a mom-of-2 lost both her legs after suffering from flu-like symptoms
WALES, UNITED KINGDOM: A "dedicated and popular" teacher had her life turned upside down when she went to bed with flu-like symptoms, only to awaken from a coma 18 days later to learn she required both of her legs to be amputated. Julianna Bransden had been "happy, healthy, and busy" when the school year ended on December 23. The 44-year-old, who enjoys taking walks along the seaside with her husband Tim and their two children, William, 11, and Emilia, 14, close to their Welsh home, was "falling over a cliff edge" just a few days later.
The mother unexpectedly caught a cold over the holiday season, but on New Year's Eve, her illness "developed rapidly into flu-like symptoms," according to her friends and relatives. Tim called the paramedics for assistance after the incident, which he later described to ITV news as "really traumatic," and was instructed to continue monitoring Ms Bransden at home while giving her plenty of water.
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Strep A and influenza resulted in pneumonia
Tim realized in astonishment after a short while that his wife's heart had abruptly ceased beating. Ms Bransden, a gifted pianist, was then taken to the hospital and put on life support while being sedated extensively. “Julianna deteriorated dramatically due to septic shock, suffering two cardiac arrests and multiple organ failure…” Her GoFundMe page says, “A diagnosis of sepsis resulting from an aggressive form of pneumonia was confirmed and we were warned that she may not survive the night!”
According to the family, a combination of invasive Strep A and influenza caused pneumonia thus "resulting in a level of sickness that several experienced ICU nurses said they had never seen anyone manage to recover from before." Doctors were overjoyed when Ms Bransden woke up without suffering any permanent brain damage after spending almost three weeks on a ventilator, as per Yahoo News.
Both legs were amputated
She had to have both of her legs amputated below the knee on February 16 because the acute illness severely damaged her hands and feet. She is currently unable to use her arms, and it is "likely" that she will lose the majority of her digits.
“The focus now is on getting Julianna home and supporting her long-term rehabilitation and recovery,” the fundraiser reads. “As a double amputee and with limited use of her hands, life for both Julianna and her family has now taken a very different path. Julianna will walk again with the use of prosthetics, of that we have no doubt. She will also overcome the challenges with her hands, adapting to find new ways of achieving what she needs to do.” When the 44-year-old regains her freedom and settles into her "new normal," the funds raised through GoFundMe will also be used to adapt the couple's home for her.