On New Years Day 2023, Amy Wells along with her older sisters Rachel and Lisa and younger brother Mitchell suddenly lost their mum to sepsis following pneumonia.
Amy is sharing her mum’s story to help raise awareness, while also raising funds for UKST in her memory.
61-year-old mum of four Wendy Wells had a cold over Christmas in 2022, but this didn’t stop her making Christmas dinner for 18 people. Amy said: “It was only the day before New Year’s day that she told us all she wasn’t feeling well enough to make another amazing Christmas dinner that she always did on New Year’s Day for the whole family. She offered everyone the food, and even cooked the meats for us to pick up.”
“No one had any idea how quickly things would change.”
On New Year’s Eve, Wendy complained of having pain in her back whilst breathing and their Dad called her an ambulance. At the hospital they were informed she had pneumonia and needed to be sedated to be given breathing support.
Amy said: “Our beautiful mum never woke up from this, within a matter of hours we surrounded her bed and held her hand whilst she passed away. None of us could have ever prepared for her passing, but because of sepsis, she was taken within hours and that will never ever get any easier to live with. We didn’t know much about sepsis, and we didn’t know how quickly it can take over the body and how fatal it could be.”
“If we can raise awareness and help just one person get to the hospital a little sooner, hopefully save one person from the unimaginable pain caused by sepsis, then it will be worth it.”
Amy discovered the UK Sepsis Trust following her mum’s passing. She said: “I searched for sepsis charities a few days after losing mum because I needed to know what support was out there and came across UK Sepsis Trust and was amazed by what you do and also how accessible everything is on Facebook, with regards to help, awareness, symptoms etc. UK Sepsis Trust even sent a speaker into Rolls Royce where my mum worked. I asked for this and they made it happen!”
Amy and her sister are now planning to complete a Tandem Skydive in their mum’s memory on 22 July, to raise money and awareness around sepsis and how serious it is. After the skydive the sisters will also be holding a charity fundraiser day from 2pm with professional face painting; an auction including signed football memorabilia; BBQ food and more at Nunsfield House Community Association.
Amy said: “I am fundraising for UK Sepsis Trust because after losing my mum so suddenly with no warning to sepsis, my family and I realised we really didn’t know anything about sepsis and how unspoken it is. I want to help save lives by spreading awareness. This charity really is keeping me going and I know my mum would be so proud of everything the UK Sepsis Trust is doing to help me achieve this. Mum’s four children Rachel, Lisa, Amy and Mitchell will forever continue to make her proud in all we do.”
Support Amy and her sister on their fundraising mission here.