Doctors described him as “one of the sickest people they had ever seen”, with only a 5% chance of survival
Yesterday was a great day for Craig Mackinlaythe Conservative member of the English Parliament who faced an ordeal of suffering afterwards severe sepsis which led toamputation of his hands and feet. After months of rehabilitation and with the help of advanced prosthetics, Mackinlay has finally returned to public life. In an interview with the BBCthe politician expressed his confidence for the future, joking about the fact that he now aspires to be remembered as “the first bionic deputy” of the United Kingdom.
Craig Mackinlay’s ordeal
Mackinlay’s ordeal began on September 27, when the 57-year-old began feeling unwell. Initially, he didn’t give much thought to the symptoms and underwent a Covid swab, going to bed early in the hope of feeling better the next day. It was his wife Kati, a pharmacist, who noticed during the night that her husband’s symptoms were worsening, with high fever and strong changes in blood pressure. The next morning, Mackinlay’s condition was critical: his arms were cold and he couldn’t hear his heartbeat. An ambulance was called, Mackinlay was rushed to hospital and half an hour later it had turned “a very strange blue.” “My whole body, top to bottom, ears, everything, blue,” he said. He had gone into septic shock. The deputy was placed in a medically induced coma for 16 days, and his wife was told to prepare for the worst. Doctors described it as “one of the sickest people they had ever seen”, with only a 5% chance of survival. On December 1, after a long hospitalization, Mackinlay underwent a surgical operation to amputate the hands and feet, which were replaced first with hard rubber “stumps”, then with advanced prosthetics costing £100,000. “They’ll never be like my natural limbs, but they’re just fine,” she said. With these prostheses, Mackinlay returned to his seat in the English Parliament on Wednesday 22 May.
The return to Parliament
So yesterday, with great emotion, Craig Mackinlay returned to Parliament in London for the first time after surviving sepsis: the welcome was warm, with colleagues applauding him for a long time. Mackinlay, elected in 2015 in the South Thanet constituency beating Nigel Farage, recalled the shock he felt upon awakening from a coma when he saw his limbs completely black: “They were like plastic… black, dried,” he told the BBC. Doctors managed to save his limbs above the elbows and knees by applying prostheses that he jokingly calls “bionic”. Last February, Mackinlay managed to walk alone and today, on his return to the Chamber, he publicly thanked, among others, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the visits made to him in hospital without publicity. The British House of Commons experienced a moment of great emotion, with a standing ovation that brought together the majority and the opposition, something rare in an election year.
Sepsis: an invisible enemy
Sepsis is a rare and serious complication of an infection that can be life-threatening. Consists of an excessive inflammatory response of the body which damages tissues and organs, compromising their functioning. The infections of bacterial origin they are the most frequent cause, but viral or fungal infections may also be involved. Sepsis requires immediate hospitalization because can cause death if not treated promptly. The malfunction of vital organs and the risk of septic shock make this condition extremely dangerous. However, if identified and treated quickly, recovery can be complete and without long-term consequences.
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