UK-based Punjabi woman loses all four limbs to sepsis after suspected dog infection, returns home after 32-week battle

PTC Web Desk:  In a deeply distressing yet inspiring case from the United Kingdom, a 56-year-old Punjabi-origin woman has returned home after surviving a life-threatening battle with sepsis that led to the amputation of all four of her limbs.

Manjit Sangha, a resident of the West Midlands, spent nearly eight months in hospital after what initially appeared to be a routine illness spiralled into a medical emergency. According to a report by the BBC, her condition deteriorated rapidly last July, leaving her in a coma within 48 hours.

Her husband, Kam Sangha, recalled the shocking turn of events, saying that just a day before she collapsed, she had been playing with the family dog and carrying on with normal life. By Monday night, she was in intensive care.

Doctors suspect that bacteria may have entered her bloodstream through a minor cut or scratch, possibly after being licked by one of the family’s dogs. Though such infections are considered extremely rare, medical experts say the case underscores how swiftly sepsis can escalate once it takes hold.

As per the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to infection in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues and organs. The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that around 50,000 people die every year in the UK due to sepsis-related complications.

By the time Manjit was admitted to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, her organs were failing. Her heart reportedly stopped six times. In an effort to prevent the infection from spreading further, surgeons were forced to amputate both her legs below the knee and both hands. She also underwent removal of her spleen, developed pneumonia during treatment and is now facing further medical procedures due to gallstones.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Manjit said she has little memory of the first month in hospital. “Losing your limbs in such a short time is something you can never imagine. It is very serious and not something to take lightly,” she said.

After 32 weeks in hospital, including rehabilitation at Moseley Hall Hospital in Birmingham, she was discharged to an emotional homecoming near the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire border.

Her husband, who took seven months off work to care for her, described her survival as nothing short of extraordinary. The couple marked their 37th wedding anniversary inside the hospital, uncertain at times whether she would pull through.

Now back home, the family has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of advanced prosthetic limbs, including robotic hands. These specialised devices could cost tens of thousands of pounds. So far, more than £22,000 has been raised.

Despite the immense physical and emotional toll, Manjit remains determined. Her goal, she says, is simple but powerful: to walk again and regain her independence.

“I’ve been sitting long enough,” she said. “Now it’s time to stand up and move forward.”