A NURSE has landed her dream job fighting the same deadly infection disease she beat 15 years ago.
Not many people can say that their career choice was inspired by a near death experience, but that is exactly what happened to one of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust’s first nurses dedicated to fighting sepsis.
Back in 2002, Emma Evans had a nine week old baby daughter when she developed sepsis – a deadly condition that kills more people in the UK than cancer.
What seemed to be flu like symptoms had left her on a life support machine and her family were told she only had a 20 per cent chance of survival.
After fighting for her life for ten days, Emma amazed doctors and was well enough to breathe on her own. She spent a month in hospital where she was so moved by the compassionate care she received, that she decided to change career and become a nurse.
“I would never have thought of becoming a nurse if I hadn’t had sepsis,” said Emma.
“Not long after leaving hospital, I left my job in the Royal Air Force and I moved back home to Rugby where I went to college to do an access to nursing course for a year.
“I then went to Coventry University for three years and completed my nursing degree. I worked in the cardiothoracic critical care unit caring for patients who’d had chest surgery for eight years before my dream job came up.
“I know I am lucky to be alive and feel extremely proud to be a sepsis nurse here, I want to raise the profile of sepsis so people know what to look out for, to prevent another family going through what mine did 15 years ago.”
According to the Sepsis Trust, Sepsis is caused by the way the body responds to germs, such as bacteria, getting into your body.
The infection may have started anywhere in a sufferer’s body, and may be only in one part of the body or it may be widespread.
Sepsis can occur following chest or water infections, problems in the abdomen like burst ulcers, or simple skin injuries like cuts and bites.
Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Linda Abolins, added: “Emma’s story is incredible and I am very pleased that someone with first hand personal experience has joined us as a sepsis nurse.
“Emma will play an important role across both of our hospitals helping to ensure that sepsis is at the forefront of everyone’s mind which will inevitably save lives.”
More information on sepsis can be found www.sepsistrust.org
