Mother-of-two became the ‘most ill person in the UK’ as she battled sepsis: 40-year-old spent two weeks in a coma and has had both legs amputated

• Ruth Quilietti-Bird had her legs amputated after spending a fortnight in a coma
• Doctors battled to keep her alive as her sepsis caused multiple-organ failure
• The art teacher’s husband Mark, 37, was even told to prepare for her death
• But now, after defying expectations, Mrs Quilietti-Bird is recovering in hospital

A mother-of-two spent her 40th birthday fighting for her life in intensive care with sepsis and became the ‘most ill person in the UK’. 

Ruth Quilietti-Bird, from Musselburgh, East Lothian, had both her legs amputated after spending a fortnight in a coma battling the violent immune reaction.

Doctors battled to keep her alive as her sepsis caused her respiratory system and kidneys to fail, while her heart and liver were left on the brink. 

The art teacher’s devastated husband Mark, 37, was even told to prepare for her death, as she had a ‘do not resuscitate notice’ placed on her records.

But now, after defying expectations and overcoming her sepsis, Mrs Quilietti-Bird is recovering in hospital and has been given new prosthetic legs.

During her 14-week battle with sepsis, she spent her milestone birthday, on March 31, in intensive care, instead of on holiday with her family.  

Ruth Quilietti-Bird, from Musselburgh, East Lothian, had both her legs amputated after spending a fortnight in a coma battling the violent immune reaction

Mr Quilietti-Bird told the East Lothian Courier: ‘Her health deteriorated more and more and she was taken to the high dependency unit.

‘They said they needed to ventilate Ruth and that was the last time I spoke to her for two and a half weeks. She went into a medicalised coma.

‘The consultant told me to prepare myself because we were losing Ruth. 

‘They managed to stabilise her but her vital organs were failing. Her respiratory had already failed and her kidneys had failed.’

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He continued: ‘There was no one as ill as Ruth in the whole of the UK at that time, receiving that amount of support to keep her alive.’ 

Mrs Quilietti-Bird was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in March after suffering breathing problems, vomiting and diarrhoea.

There she was diagnosed with sepsis – when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.

She was then transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where doctors working in a specialist unit told her husband again to prepare for the worst.

Doctors battled to keep her alive as her sepsis caused her respiratory system and kidneys to fail, while her heart and liver were left on the brink (pictured before her sepsis, with her husband Mark, 37, and daughters Lucia, seven, and Isabella, five)

The art teacher’s devastated husband Mark, 37, was even told to prepare for her death, as she had a ‘do not resuscitate notice’ placed on her records

Mr Quilietti-Bird said: ‘Her liver was failing and her heart was beginning to fail. They said again that they were losing Ruth and she wouldn’t last the inpatient stay.

‘They made the decision to fit a second extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (EMCO) circuit to support her heart and stabilise her. 

‘Then things started improving and they were able to withdraw some of the support and her blood tests were showing very small improvements.

‘Ruth’s immune system was already affected, so it was able to take over quickly, causing failure to the vital organs. She was diagnosed with sepsis and pneumonia.’ 

The cause of her sepsis remains a mystery, but doctors suspect it may have been triggered by group A streptococcal bacteria.

Mrs Quilietti-Bird, currently recovering at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in Edinburgh, moved hospitals seven times during her near-death battle.

She was given new prosthetic legs two weeks ago, and has since been undergoing physiotherapy at the hospital. 

But there are fears Mrs Quilietti-Bird, mother to seven-year-old Lucia and five-year-old Isabella, may also lose her hands in the coming weeks. 

But now, after defying expectations and overcoming her sepsis, Mrs Quilietti-Bird is recovering in hospital and has been given new prosthetic legs

During her 14-week battle with sepsis, she spent her milestone birthday, on March 31, in intensive care, instead of on holiday with her family (pictured undergoing physiotherapy)

WHAT IS SEPSIS? 

Sepsis, known as the ‘silent killer’, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.

It is the leading cause of avoidable death, killing at least 44,000 a year, and the Daily Mail has long campaigned for more awareness.

If caught early, the infection can be controlled by antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive – ultimately leading to death within a matter of minutes.

But the early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.

A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens.

Her friend Jacqueline Campbell said: ‘Ruth’s fighting spirit saw her through a horrific journey of near death experiences. 

‘Mark was trying to juggle being with Ruth and maintaining some form of normality for their young children. 

‘Her 40th birthday was spent in Intensive Care rather than on a planned family break.

‘Mark was told he should say goodbye, Ruth had a do not resuscitate notice added to her health records. Ruth fought back.

‘When Ruth finally woke up from her coma, after ten long weeks, her hands and feet were black and dying.’ 

She added: ‘Ruth’s family had more time to process this heartbreaking situation, but Ruth had little time to come to terms with the news.

‘Ruth’s recovery has been remarkable and she is exceeding all medical expectations.’

Now friends of Mrs Quilietti-Bird are trying to raise £20,000 to fund a mobility scooter and adapt a new property.

She is unable to return to her family home because the flat is unsuitable as it is an old-build with outdoor, communal stairs. 

Anyone wanting to donate can do so here. 

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