Marathon mum struck cruel blow as she loses her legs to meningitis

A SUPER-FIT mum who was training to run a half marathon had to have both of her legs amputated below the knee after falling seriously ill on Christmas Eve.

mengingitis, runner's leg amputated, tragic ordeal, fundraisingCASCADE

Tracy with husband Brad at their wedding

Tracy Ralph, 34, was rushed to Southend Hospital and placed in an induced coma after feeling short of breath.

She was found to have pneumonia and taken to St Thomas' Hospital in London.

Tracy, from Hawkwell, Essex, suffered complete organ failure, meningitis, septicaemia, blood clots and bleeding on the brain.

This resulted in her having to have her legs amputated below the knee, as well as her fingers.

She is left needing a huge amount of rehabilitation so her family this week launched an appeal for help which has already seen more than £27,000 flood in.

Tracy's sister-in-law, Amanda Ralph, said: "It's really humbling, we were up to nearly £18,000 in less than 24 hours.

"We have had people who didn't even know Tracy contributing and those saying they can't afford much but giving what they can.

"Every penny will help Tracy and we are so grateful to everyone who has donated, we are raising the money for her rehab and ultimately the best prosthetic feet we can buy."

Tracy's husband Brad, 37, has been at her side throughout the ordeal, but he has kept their children, four-year-old Miller and 19-month-old Hudson, away until their mother is up to seeing them.

Every penny will help Tracy and we are so grateful to everyone who has donated

Tracy's sister-in-law, Amanda Ralph

She came out of her coma on New Year's Eve and doctors at St Thomas Hospital are hopeful Tracy will be well enough to be transferred to Southend next week, but she is still battling a potentially fatal blood clot.

Amanda added: "We have been living through it, but it has almost been an out of body experience, there has been no good news at all.

"We were close to losing her before she got transferred to London, the doctors said she might not make it at one point."

Tracy, who works for Clarins at Debenhams in Southend, had been training to run the Southend Half Marathon later this year with the Essex Ladies Running Club before becoming ill.

A fellow member has now taken her spot and will donate everything she raises to Tracy's cause.

Tracy's fundraising page can be found here.

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