A young Scots dad had to have his arm amputated to save his life after a potentially deadly sepsis battle.
Andrew Scott Brown, from Aberdeen, was rushed to the city's Royal Infirmary last October just days after suffering from a throat infection when he suddenly lost all function in his arm.
The 29-year-old was diagnosed with severe sepsis and cellulitis, leaving doctors with no choice but to remove his limb. He was then placed in an induced coma before his family say doctors told them he only had a 50 per cent chance of survival.
Father-of-four Andrew told the Record his sepsis symptoms struck within a week of his sore throat and that he had developed foot pain before his arm became red and swollen. Andrew also recalled waking up from his coma nine days later, but it was a further four days before he realised his left arm had been removed.
He said: "This all started with a sore throat and I thought it was tonsillitis again.
"But soon I got really sick and couldn't keep food down. Then my arm became really red and swollen.
"All I remember after that is being wheeled into the ward. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in intensive care.
"I don't remember much from the first few days I was awake - it took until the fourth or fifth day for me to actually realise I didn't have an arm."
Andrew's heartbroken partner Kelseah, who had just given birth two weeks earlier, described her horror when she realised how seriously ill Andrew had become.
She added: "I knew something was really wrong, but none of us were prepared to see him like that. My heart broke into a million pieces and I didn't know if he would pull through."
Doctors had initially carried out surgery to remove the infected tissue in Andrew's arm, but the dad's body struggled to cope with the operation and medics told Kelseah that removing his arm was their best hope at saving his life.
Kelseah - who is mum to Andrew's four children Hunter, five, Jace, three, Addilyn, one; and newborn Karson - said the dad couldn't remember his baby son's name when he woke from his coma, but she tried everything in her power to help him pull through.
She said: "He had missed weeks of our baby's life and at first, he couldn't even remember his name. It was heartbreaking and a really difficult time.
"But he was looking at me every time I spoke to him. Then I asked him to do things like squeeze my hand and shake his head and he started responding."
Andrew began his recovery in hospital before eventually being discharged on November 20. Two months later, the young dad is still adjusting to life at home.
He said: "Before this happened I was non-stop, but now I'm having to get used to all the things I can and can't do. I thought I wasn't going to be able to do anything, but Kelseah's encouraging me to just try everything and I can manage most of it."
Kelsea added: "Andrew is now able to hold the kids, change their nappies and feed them. He's figuring out his own way around things.
"His mindset really helps. He has not crumbled. If anything, it's made him stronger. I'm just so glad to have him home."
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