Many new university students often get flu-like illnesses when they first arrive due to exposure to new germs in close-contact environments. Known to students as “freshers’ flu”, it actually refers to a number of illnesses that typically occur among large groups of people. It is, therefore, no surprise that a 19-year-old student, Ketia Moponda, thought she was just coming down with freshers’ flu eight days into her marketing and advertising degree. Throughout the day, Ketia called her cousin and best friend, telling them that she felt like death. The next morning, however, no one was able to reach her.
Ketia Moponda Was Found in an Unconscious State
After having no success contacting her, the university security staff and one of the students let themselves into Moponda’s room. In the room, they found the student lying unconscious, and she was subsequently rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Leicester in an ambulance.
Speaking to the press a year after the ordeal, Moponda stated that she has no memory of what happened and feels lucky to still be alive. According to the doctors’ diagnosis, the teenager had a severe type of blood poisoning known as meningococcal septicaemia. This eventually led to bacterial meningitis and ultimately, sepsis. Recounting the sequence of events, she stated that “When I got to the hospital, my blood oxygen level was at one per cent..
The blood wasn’t circulating around my body, and my skin was colourless. My feet were green and swollen. My organs were failing, and doctors told my family that if I woke at all, I’d likely be brain dead.” Upon awakening a couple of days later, Moponda realized that was was unable to speak or even see anything for the following week. Due to the lack of adequate blood flow, the skin on her feet and fingers had begun to shrivel up. This eventually led to her fingers and legs being amputated, which caused the young woman incredible emotional pain. Moponda stated that “I woke from the operation and just cried. I felt like my whole life had just begun, and now I had to start all over again differently.”
Road to Recovery
Her legs had been amputated below the knee, and in May, she received prosthetic lower legs. She is currently still waiting for prosthetic fingers, though. Until then, she is not remaining idle and has amazingly already gotten to a point where she can walk unassisted. Next, she hopes to be back in the gym running when it is possible. So many questions still remain for the young woman whose entire future took a sudden change of direction. She expressed that she finds it heartbreaking that doctors are not even sure how she got the illness in the first place.
However, despite all of the pain and heartbreak, she is determined not to totally drop all of her dreams, such as her ambition to pursue modelling as a career. “At first, I thought I’d give up on modelling, but I won’t. You don’t have to hide who you are. This doesn’t make me less of a person. I am unapologetically me, and I want to help others to feel confident about who they are and how they look. I’m very headstrong, and I plan to break all the barriers of disability,” she stated.
Potential Cause of Ketia’s Illness
While her doctors may never know the exact reason behind Ketia’s case, the likely chain of events is documented in other such cases. The Neisseria meningitidis bacterium (meningococcus) can live in the nose and throat of healthy people without causing any harm, even in crowded settings such as university residences. However, close contact, such as kissing, coughing, and even sharing drinks, can help the bacterium spread among the community. After a mild viral illness, the throat’s lining becomes vulnerable, which gives the bacterium the opportunity to cross over into the bloodstream. In some rare cases, these bacteria begin to multiply rapidly, releasing toxins that trigger a serious immune response called sepsis.
Issues with the body’s clotting system can cause clots to form, blocking circulation to the hands and feet. With the oxygen supply cut off, skin and tissue can die, which is why some patients end up needing amputations. The factors that can increase risk include living in close quarters with other people, exposure to smoke, and recent infections. However, it can also affect healthy people with no other known medical issues. There are vaccines that can reduce risk; however, catching it early is very important. The symptoms that you should look out for are extreme drowsiness, confusion, a rash, cold limbs, a severe headache, and a stiff neck. If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to seek medical care as soon as possible. The timing can mean the difference between life and death.
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