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Determined to regain her independence, she says, “It’s time to walk again.”
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She hopes her story will raise awareness about the dangers of sepsis, warning: “It could happen to anybody.”
A 56-year-old Indian-origin woman from Birmingham has survived a life-threatening case of sepsis that doctors believe may have started after her pet dog licked a small cut on her skin.
In July 2025, Manjit Sangha returned home from work feeling unwell. By the following day, her husband, Kam Sangha, 60, found her unconscious on the sofa. Her lips had turned blue and her hands and feet felt extremely cold. An ambulance was called immediately.
Speaking to the BBC, Kam said he was in shock at how quickly her condition worsened. “One minute she was fine, and within days she was in a coma,” he said.
Manjit was admitted to intensive care at New Cross Hospital and placed in a medically induced coma. During her stay, she suffered six cardiac arrests, and doctors were unsure if she would survive. She was later diagnosed with sepsis, a serious condition in which the body’s response to infection damages its own organs.
Doctors believe bacteria may have entered her bloodstream through a small cut, possibly after being licked by her dog
Her illness led to a rare complication called disseminated intravascular coagulation, which causes dangerous blood clotting. To save her life, surgeons had to amputate both legs below the knee and both hands. She also underwent surgery to remove her spleen after developing pneumonia and gallstones.
After spending more than seven months in hospital, Manjit is now recovering at home. Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of prosthetic limbs, therapy and home adjustments.
