It has been a big start to the year for Korina and Daniel Valentine and their fight to increase the awareness around sepsis.
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From appearing on the ABC’s 7:30 report to having a hand in creating the National Action Plan with the Australian Sepsis Network, the couple, who are behind the charity Reaching 4 Korina are just getting started.
Not only is the charity moving ahead in leaps and bounds, but Mrs Valentine herself is accomplishing some personal milestones.
Having contracted sepsis in April 2015, Mrs Valentine has undergone multiple limb amputations.
Initially thought to be influenza by medical professionals, when her condition rapidly deteriorated she was put on life support.
It was this experience that lead Mr and Mrs Valentine to establish the charity, and ultimately feature on the ABC’s 7:30 report last week.
“It isn’t really recognised in the hospital, there is no code for the system that says you died from sepsis,” Mr Valentine said.
He said as with most cases of sepsis, it was hard to pinpoint the source of Mrs Valentine’s infection.
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“We have had that many test but there has never been a result,” he said.
A second bout of the condition was deemed to be due to a gall bladder infection.
Mr Valentine said the rapid deterioration of people’s condition with sepsis adds to the importance of awareness.
“It is scary how quickly it can turn on you. Time is the biggest thing,” he said.
“They say every hour your life expectancy reduces by four to eight per cent wile you are sitting at home.”
Mr Valentine said even among medical professions there is little knowledge of the condition.
“People think Korina has been in a car accident, and when she says ‘I had sepsis’ even the nurses say ‘what is that?,” he said.
“It is scary how much it is not out there.”
With two new prosthetic legs having been fitted, Mrs Valentine is on the road to walking independently.
“They [physios at the rehabilitation centre] are really happy with her progress,” Mr Valentine said.
Wheelchair bound for nearly three years after multiple limb amputations and having spent about 16 months collectively in hospital, Mr Valentine said the prosthetic legs were a huge step.
“It definitely put a smile on her face,” he said.
“She isn’t a very emotional person and everything is fairly black and white with her but you can tell she is chuffed.”
This year Reaching 4 Korina will be hosting a trivia night on June 22 at the Mittagong RSL.
Mr Valentine said the Golf Day would also be back again and there would be the possibility of a charity cricket match.
ABC 7:30’s segment on sepsis, featuring Mr and Mrs Valentine can be found online here.
You can find out more about Reaching 4 Korina here.
