Sepsis Took Her Limbs, But Not Her Spirit
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About 6 months ago, my Mum, Lyndel Cowley ( the Herlad Sun article refers to Crowley and Crawley - but it is the same person) went from a healthy 68 year old independent working women, to a quad amputee. She was playing with her grandchildren and tending to her garden, completely unaware she was developing a deadly strep infection. Within 24 hours she was non-responsive and only hours from death. Her body was riddled with Sepsis and she had less than 2% chance of survival. Having had Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier in her life, Mum was left with no spleen, so with no defence, Sepsis ripped through her body causing multi organ failure.
The family were called bedside. Mum was placed in an induced coma, on life support and continual dialysis with limited to no chance of survival. I was with Mum each minute/hour, nervously awaiting our final moments together. Dad died in1989 of bowel cancer, so as an only child it was all on my shoulders.
We got through the first night, the second and then the third. I slept beside her in hospital, whilst my incredible husband took over our family life and business. I told the doctors she was a fighter, they agreed cautiously, reminding me religiously of the seriousness of her condition. Mum fought hard for 2 weeks in intensive care and one-by-one the machines were removed. She was transferred to the Alfred Hospital Melbourne in an effort to try and save her dying limbs. She was going to live, but there were consequences to saving Mum’s life. The drugs had stopped circulation to her extremities … both her hands and both her feet had died.
Today, after 10 operations, both arms and both legs have been amputated. She is a very rare quad amputee - particularly being an older women. What makes her condition harder to comprehend is that Mum is a talented bridal dressmaker who will never sew again.
This disease may have taken her arms and feet, but it did not take this wonderful women.
She has overcome many things in her life, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 31years of age and a reoccurrence at 40yrs, along with losing Dad to bowel cancer at 39 years. She is proud and independent, much more comfortable helping others, giving of her time and skills, than asking for help. But right now she needs our help. Whilst she is uncomfortable asking for it, the bottom line is we need money to fund the equipment and her new reality. She has given to so many people in her life, it is now time to repay the favour.
Mum can no longer do the things we take for granted – feed herself, wash herself, scratch her itchy skin, clean her teeth, do her makeup, brush her hair, walk, stand … she needs care 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
After hopefully her final and 10th operation in December, the plan is to move Mum into our home with my husband and our children Alexis (7 years) and Xavier (3 years). We need to fund everything from prosthetics (over $100K per limb), home modifications, a powered wheel chair, mobility hoist and sling, height adjustable bed, shower commode, care nurses and the list goes on. Her condition is so rare the majority of the equipment needs to be customised. Unfortunately being over the age of 65 years she is not eligible for National Disability and Insurance scheme (NDIS). Also Mum is not able to receive any substantial funding from any government source because of the way she sustained these injuries.
To start, we need funding for the following three areas:
1) Equipment
2) Changes to the house and car
3) Ongoing nursing care.
We need a lot more than $100,000 but it’s a start. Please if you have any spare change, help me.
You will see the name Heath Adams as the beneficiary, he is collecting the money for Mum, he is my cousin and Mums nephew.
The family were called bedside. Mum was placed in an induced coma, on life support and continual dialysis with limited to no chance of survival. I was with Mum each minute/hour, nervously awaiting our final moments together. Dad died in1989 of bowel cancer, so as an only child it was all on my shoulders.
We got through the first night, the second and then the third. I slept beside her in hospital, whilst my incredible husband took over our family life and business. I told the doctors she was a fighter, they agreed cautiously, reminding me religiously of the seriousness of her condition. Mum fought hard for 2 weeks in intensive care and one-by-one the machines were removed. She was transferred to the Alfred Hospital Melbourne in an effort to try and save her dying limbs. She was going to live, but there were consequences to saving Mum’s life. The drugs had stopped circulation to her extremities … both her hands and both her feet had died.
Today, after 10 operations, both arms and both legs have been amputated. She is a very rare quad amputee - particularly being an older women. What makes her condition harder to comprehend is that Mum is a talented bridal dressmaker who will never sew again.
This disease may have taken her arms and feet, but it did not take this wonderful women.
She has overcome many things in her life, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 31years of age and a reoccurrence at 40yrs, along with losing Dad to bowel cancer at 39 years. She is proud and independent, much more comfortable helping others, giving of her time and skills, than asking for help. But right now she needs our help. Whilst she is uncomfortable asking for it, the bottom line is we need money to fund the equipment and her new reality. She has given to so many people in her life, it is now time to repay the favour.
Mum can no longer do the things we take for granted – feed herself, wash herself, scratch her itchy skin, clean her teeth, do her makeup, brush her hair, walk, stand … she needs care 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
After hopefully her final and 10th operation in December, the plan is to move Mum into our home with my husband and our children Alexis (7 years) and Xavier (3 years). We need to fund everything from prosthetics (over $100K per limb), home modifications, a powered wheel chair, mobility hoist and sling, height adjustable bed, shower commode, care nurses and the list goes on. Her condition is so rare the majority of the equipment needs to be customised. Unfortunately being over the age of 65 years she is not eligible for National Disability and Insurance scheme (NDIS). Also Mum is not able to receive any substantial funding from any government source because of the way she sustained these injuries.
To start, we need funding for the following three areas:
1) Equipment
2) Changes to the house and car
3) Ongoing nursing care.
We need a lot more than $100,000 but it’s a start. Please if you have any spare change, help me.
You will see the name Heath Adams as the beneficiary, he is collecting the money for Mum, he is my cousin and Mums nephew.
Co-organizers (2)
Elisa Adams
Organizer
Heath Adams
Beneficiary
Renee Wallis
Co-organizer