A ROYAL Gwent Hospital nurse who lost both legs, an arm and four fingers because of sepsis is now living at home and walking.

Jayne Carpenter, 49, who had been working at the Royal Gwent Hospital since 1991, suffered from sepsis - a condition where the body's immune system goes into overdrive trying to fight an infection – at the end of April.

Because of sepsis, Mrs Carpenter was on a ventilator and heavily sedated for nine weeks.

When her limbs started to gangrene, the surgeons carried out the triple amputation to save her life.

Now, not even seven months after suffering from sepsis, Mrs Carpenter is at home and walking.

“I don’t want my life to stop, so I’m learning to do everything again,” said Mrs Carpenter, who now has her first set of prosthetic limbs and has been at home for about three weeks. “I’m taking baby steps and I still have my weekly goals.

“I’m lucky to have a second chance - a lot of people who have had sepsis don’t have it.

“People still stare, but I’m quite proud about the way my rehabilitation is going.”

The nurse, who lives near Merthyr, said she is now able to cook and do her makeup, for example, and that her next goal is walking her dog, Harriet.

“My biggest frustration is not being able to be independent and, amongst others, I want to learn to drive again in an adapted car,” she said. “We’re in the middle of doing all the work in the house – we need a new drive and path and a downstairs toilet, for example.

“The fundraising has really helped us and we’re extremely grateful.

“It will allow us to do all the changes without the financial pressure.”

Shortly after Mrs Carpenter’s triple amputation, her colleagues started a Just Giving page, raising more than £6,000.

More money was raised through other events and her colleagues are currently organising a dinner and dance for her and her husband Rob at the Glen-Yr-Afon, in Usk, where they got married.

Mrs Carpenter said that her goal for next spring is to walk up Pen-Y-Fan to raise money for the Sepsis Trust and for the Rookwood Hospital.