“I still feel like I am in a dream”
Bryana Francis and Josh Pennington Content editor
21:25, 07 Oct 2025
(Image: Lily McGarry)
When Lily McGarry, a sports-enthusiastic medical student, awoke in January with a scratchy throat and slight cough, she thought little of it.
Within days, her relatives were informed she had become the most critically ill patient at the University Hospital of Wales.
Several months later, she had become a quadruple amputee after being diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia which progressed into septic shock.
Since January, Lily has received treatment at the University Hospital of Wales, Morriston Hospital, and currently Llandough Hospital where her rehabilitation continues.
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The 24-year-old from Jersey, an accomplished swimmer and triathlete, went from completing a 10k on the Sunday to being gravely unwell in hospital by the Tuesday, reports Wales Online.
In the nearly 10 months that have followed, Lily’s family have essentially resided in south Wales, providing support throughout her journey.
Lily has received constant support from her friends throughout(Image: Lily McGarry)
She said: “To be honest it feels very strange – time has gone so quickly but so slowly and so much has changed. I can’t remember most of January through to April or even May – I still feel a bit stuck in 2024. I often get the date wrong. Without sounding too clichéd it has been an emotional rollercoaster.
“There have definitely been dark days but the amazing healthcare staff and the support from family and friends has made those difficult times easier. Now that I’m in a rehab centre I have the opportunity to make friends with other patients. We will share our stories and have a laugh but can also support each other through problems.
“There are still days when I look at the scarring and my legs though and feel grief about how they look now compared to the way they were before. I know nothing can give me back my limbs or the life I expected to have but I’m trying to focus on what’s ahead. I don’t feel like my life has got worse – it has just changed.”
Lily hopes that following her three-month stay at Llandough Hospital, she’ll finally be able to return home to Jersey where her parents are being held to a dog promise. Currently, her heart is set on a golden retriever.
Going back to Jersey will mark a significant milestone in Lily’s recovery, something that will be greatly assisted by the kindness of people from across the country who have contributed to a fundraising campaign.
In April, Lily’s family established a GoFundMe page to raise funds for prosthetics and home modifications to help Lily return home and cover the long-term care she will need. The fundraiser has attracted just under £480,000 in donations so far, with people continuing to contribute every day.
The response to the fundraiser has been incredible with the initial goal of £100,000 being raised to £500,000. For Lily the response has been a real shock but will prove life-changing with the cost of one prosthetic leg exceeding £100,000.
Lily said: “I don’t know where to begin how to explain my gratitude towards the Cardiff and Jersey communities and further afield. I have received an incredible amount of support both from friends, family, and people who don’t even know me.
Lily has had her heart set on a golden retriever after meeting Watson at Morriston Hospital(Image: Lily McGarry)
“Through the GoFundMe page thousands of people have provided support from donations to runs to music concerts to netball tournaments to cake sales. Not only this but I have received hundreds of messages of support which have kept me going when I am struggling. In fact there are many I still haven’t read and plan to take time to read in the future.”
The contributions have served as constant encouragement for Lily. “No words can really describe how this feels. Knowing that Wales, Jersey, and people all over the UK really want to see you get better makes me determined to make the best life as possible out of this situation.
“So I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
When she fell ill Lily was in her third year of medicine and she is awaiting news on whether she’ll be able to resume her studies as she must demonstrate she possesses the essential competencies needed to qualify as a doctor. While she awaits confirmation on whether she can continue her studies, Lily has an important message for her fellow students.
Lily has been described as an “exceptional triathlete”(Image: GoFundMe)
Given the large number of people students interact with and their bustling social lives, their immune systems can often be compromised, making them more prone to infections.
Lily is urging everyone to verify their vaccination history with their GP and ensure they are immunised against diseases such as MMR and meningitis.
She also emphasised the importance of students looking out for their housemates, as it could potentially save lives, as it did in her case.
Lily is now continuing her rehab in Llandough Hospital(Image: Lily McGarry)
She stated: “My housemates Ella and Lucy saved my life. I was lucky that they could recognise I was unwell enough to go to hospital – I had a fever, I had no appetite and was struggling to pass urine, I was shivery, I was nauseous and vomiting, I was also incontinent.
“When we arrived at A&E, I was very fortunate that my friends alerted the staff of my illness and escalated matters with the triage nurse when a nonblanching rash that is characteristic of meningitis appeared on my tummy.
“In my case I was lucky that they had medical knowledge but for those who don’t feel confident in identifying the signs of sepsis please have a look on Sepsis Research FEAT social media pages and website.”