Sophy surviving sepsis & HLH

My name is Angie and I’ve created this account for my brave daughter Sophy. I have chosen to launch this on 10/12/23 as it is exactly one year since this all began. I never thought I'd have to write one of these, but our lives were forever changed when she was hospitalised early December 2022 with septic shock resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and pneumonia. Sophy was placed in a medically induced coma for 10 weeks fighting for her life. Sophy was ventilated, had a tracheotomy, nephrostomy tube, was on an ECMO machine and had transfusions, biopsies, dialysis and delirium- all from a kidney stone. We even had to prepare for the possibility that Sophy was going to wake up brain damaged. That's a very shortened way of saying that she went through hell and back.

Due to the coma that was necessary to allow her body to recover, Sophy lost 100% of her mobility. Sophy has had to learn to cough, swallow, speak, eat and drink again. After being bed-bound, Sophy is learning to walk again and uses a wheelchair and a four-wheeled-walker.

Sadly, the rehabilitation was not intensive enough for her mobility to be returned before Sophy was discharged home from hospital and the support in the community is simply not good enough. We have since sourced a private physiotherapist who is working hard with Sophy to get her back to her pre critical illness mobility functions. Anything that you can contribute will go towards getting Sophy walking, being independent, writing, drawing etc again. It's difficult to convey how much this has impacted Sophy and our family, but she has had to learn absolutely everything all over again.

Sophy is going to start documenting her recovery so far on social media so you can follow her journey and watch the difference your contribution will make*

I'm truly amazed at her progress everyday and the consultants, doctors and nurses who have cared for Sophy have been astonished at how far she has come and how she continues to keep focused. When I listen to Sophy describe why she is in a wheelchair when she meets new people she will explain "I wasnt like this before"... can you imagine not being able to do the things that you previously took for granted, physio is not only for mobility but for every muscle.

From my family to you, thank you for your support.

Angie x

*Tiktok @FlossNorman

*Instagram @misssophylina