My Journey Through Sepsis

In 2019, Elin was holidaying in Gran Canaria when a sudden and serious illness hit. Out of nowhere, Elin was experiencing terrible pain and hallucinations, which turned out to be Sepsis. After three weeks in hospital, she was airlifted back to Sweden and had both of her legs amputated below the knee, plus nine fingers. Devastating at the time for the former hairdresser, her life is now active, busy, and different every day. 

Also on holiday, October 2023 in Portugal, James suddenly felt very unwell out of nowhere. After becoming very sick on the plane, he went straight from the airport to the hospital, where he stayed for two and a half weeks in an induced coma. After a further three months in hospital, then six weeks in rehab, James was eventually allowed home. James is now back at work full-time in London. 

Elin Rantatalo: It all happened so fast, and I strangely felt quite well to begin with. However, Sepsis took hold quickly, and I don’t have much recollection of my time in the Spanish hospital. Back in Sweden and conscious again, I felt resigned to the amputations; it had to be done, or what was the alternative? I was quite stoic about the whole situation; I had no choice.  

James Brown: It was no big surprise as my heart rate went up to 107 overnight while on holiday, whereas it’s normally around the 50 mark. I already had some knowledge of Sepsis but by the time I got to hospital I was in shock and not really aware of anything.  

What did your recovery journey look like? 

JB: My wife was told that I was the sickest person in the hospital at the time. In rehab, I couldn’t do anything with my arms, I had no grip strength whatsoever. That’s when I realised I was in a seriously bad way, but it made me determined to get back to normal. Back home, in May, I felt my energy start to return and soon after, went back to work. I did find it tiring and I initially struggled with some tasks, and finding my words, but I wanted to get back to normal. My employer, Ricoh Europe PLC were incredibly supportive and accommodating.   I’d say it was October 2024 by the time I got my physical fitness back and January 2025 when I was firing on all cylinders.  

ER: I had a long stretch when all my muscles stopped working. When I finally “got back” my legs, I longed so much to use them. I was enrolled in the hospital’s rehab programme, but I did more exercise in the evenings as I was so inspired to start living again.  

ER: I was in mourning for the loss of my fingers. I was a hairdresser. My hands were my tools. Then I learnt about Naked Prosthetics, and when I tried them, I immediately knew this was the solution I needed. I can grip, the strain on my joints is reduced, I can hold a glass, wheel my suitcase around… 

JB: There wasn’t an actual realisation point; it was more of a gradual thing. I’d set myself four goals while in rehab: get back home; start driving again; get back to work; and get back on my bike. This gave me a purpose, and I’ve achieved all of them, with the help of my i-Digits.  

Do you have any ongoing physical or mental health issues? 

JB: I still get pains in my foot, and occasional joint pain in my hand. But mentally, I look forward. All of my leadership and self-awareness training at work has helped me in this respect. I don’t engage with any negative information, and being physically active has definitely sped up my recovery. 

ER: I lost the hearing in my right ear and have limited mobility in my left arm, other than that, I feel recovered. These days I mostly use my Pro Flex Terra, which allows me to stay active without worrying about pain. My Naked Prosthetics MPC Driver eases the strain on my body and supports my natural movement patterns, making everyday life feel much more natural. It feels like an extension of me! 

ER: It’s a crazy combination of running a busy house full of kids and animals, arranging speaking opportunities, writing books, and creating social media content…every day is something different.  

JB: Back to working five days a week, in the London office half of the time. I’m back driving, taking my girls to their swimming lessons, gardening, and basically taking back some of the load from my wife. We’re getting to the point where chores are almost split evenly again.  

JB: Just be aware of symptoms: a high heart rate, that feeling of doom, and get Sepsis ruled out first. If it happens to you, you will feel awful, and you’ll wonder if you’ll ever be able to do all the things you used to do. But the reality is, you probably can.  

ER: I’m a person with many dreams who has learnt to be content with life. I’m continuing to develop my lectures and my position as a role model, so I want others to know that life continues, sometimes in a different form, but equally fulfilling.