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Hundreds of people wear orange for sepsis amputee

Chris Craddock
BBC Jersey communities reporter
BBC Hundreds of people are wearing orange and sitting on concrete steps. In front of them - Lily's family and close friends link arms - they're also wearing orange.BBC
People came together in Liberation Square to show their support for Lily and her family

Hundreds of people have worn orange to show their support for a Jersey medical student who had all her limbs amputated after her flu-like symptoms turned into septic shock.

Twenty-three-year old Lily McGarry woke up with a sore throat and a cough in January but days later suffered two cardiac arrests and was fighting for her life. She is currently being treated in hospital in Wales.

She was a talented swimmer and is a former junior Team GB triathlete and Jersey's Tri Club organised the event to show support for her.

Organisers said the event was to to help raise awareness of limb loss and was part of a national campaign by the Amputee Coalition group.

Tanya Gorrod and Jo Gorrod Lily lies on her hospital bed having had her limbs amputated but she smiles at the cameraTanya Gorrod and Jo Gorrod
Lily was transferred to Morriston Hospital in Swansea where all four of her limbs were amputated

Lily's grandmother Susan McGarry said she was moved by the support shown.

She said: "Lily needs things like this... She loves receiving photos and stories of what's going on in the island and I send her cards.

"Lily remains optimistic and is really quite a remarkable young lady, and she has an emotional maturity which is quite rare in a 23-year-old."

Nearly £300,000 has been donated to help pay for advanced prosthetics to allow Lily to continue her passion for sports when she is able to.

Susan looks at the camera as people in orange gather behind her and there's a statue behind her. She's wearing a red coat and a dark brown scarf and has short grey hair.
Susan McGarry is Lily's grandmother and says Lily is a remarkable young woman

Adele Maher, who used to train with Ms McGarry at the Jersey Tri Club, said it had been a "heartbreaking" situation.

She said: "You just feel for Lily and her family, and she's got so much love and support, so we're just sending that to her through this.

"She lights up every room she goes in and she's the most caring, supportive friend that you'll ever meet – she's gorgeous inside and out."

Ms Maher said she was planning on visiting Ms McGarry when her condition improved and "tell her how much I love her and she's so strong and so brave".

Adele smiles at the camera as a few people talk behind her. She has a denim jacket on with a orange sports top underneath. Adele has long ginger hair which comes down to her shoulders.
Adele trained with Lily at Jersey Tri Club

Claire Forbes, who grew up with Ms McGarry and has been to visit her, said the event was a "complete show of solidarity" and it "showed community support which is so powerful for Lily with what she's going through".

She said: "Lily is looking like she could be getting out of ICU [intensive care unit] in a couple of weeks and they've told there's no more operations and she's into the healing process now."

Claire smiles at the camera as people in orange chat behind her. She's wearing an orange turtleneck jumper. She has short blonde hair.
Close family friend Claire Forbes says Lily could be leaving the ICU in the coming weeks

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