A woman selected to star on The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief has revealed that she survived an aggressive flesh-eating disease.

Heather Parsons, 53, contracted necrotising fasciitis in 2002 while she was on a skiing holiday with her son Will, who was just 7 years old at the time.

The infection caused Heather to suffer multi-system organ failure. She had a heart attack and could not breathe without support.

She fell into a coma for two weeks and was given a 30% chance of survival. Incredibly she pulled through, but it took six weeks in hospital and 15 operations before she could return home.

Heather’s experienced prompted her to leave her job, re-mortgage her home in Southampton and set up a charity called Where There’s A Will – named after her son, who is now 20.

The charity offers support to intensive care patients and their families. Heather also volunteers at Southampton General Hospital’s intensive care ward.

Necrotising fasciitis

Necrotising fasciitis is a severe bacterial infection that can affect anyone of any age. It destroys the body’s deep tissues, leading to widespread tissue death.

Emergency treatment must be provided if the patient is to survive, or sepsis and organ failure will occur.

If there is a delay in treatment because medical practitioners fail to diagnose the condition, or fail to appreciate the urgency with which surgery is needed, there may be a case of medical negligence.

Contact us today

If you or your loved one has suffered because doctors did not treat necrotising fasciitis, please contact us today.

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