A BRAVE mum has revealed how giving birth to beautiful twins swiftly turned into an unimaginable nightmare that cost her nearly all of her limbs.
After having a healthy, natural birth, Khedidja Teape, 29, from south-west London, developed post-partum sepsis, and was moments away from death.
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The mum-of-four miraculously survived, but had to have both her legs, left arm, one hand, and some fingers amputated.
Now, Khedidja is bravely speaking out to raise awareness of the deadly disease, and what symptoms to look out for.
Khedidja says: “If I hadn’t called an ambulance when I did, doctors said I might have died in my sleep. People need to be aware how dangerous sepsis is if they don’t act fast.
“Sometimes I ask, ‘Why me?’ But I’m mostly thankful that I’m still here to be a mum to my kids.
“Now, I can carry my twins in the crook of my right arm, and lift them up too. My family are happy to have me home.”
In 2023, Khedidja, a craft business owner, and her partner of 12 years, Shawn Ayton, 32, a plumber, were expecting twins.
Khedidja says: “We were already parents to a boy and girl, Zackai and Zanaya-Li, and weren’t looking to have any more children.
“It was a huge shock, but we were excited to extend our beautiful family.”
“The pregnancy went smoothly and when I was five months along, we discovered we were having a boy and girl, again.
“When I was three weeks away from my due date, we had a baby shower with family and friends. I was anxious and excited for the twins to arrive.”
The next month, in April 2023, Khedidja had a slow, natural labour over the course of a few days at St George’s Hospital, London.
She gave birth to her son, Zakari, then 45 minutes later, her daughter, Zalaysia. They were given a clean bill of health.
Khedidja says: “Holding my new babies in my arms, I’d never felt so proud. I looked at Shawn and said, ‘I did it!’
“Zakari and Zalaysia were beautiful, and I loved them already. I couldn’t wait to introduce them to their siblings.”
Dream turned nightmare
The next day, the family got the all-clear and were discharged from hospital.
At her home in London, Khedidja felt exhausted looking after her newborns, as she expected.
But that day, as she busy breastfeeding, she began experiencing bad stomach pains.
Khedidja says: “The next day the midwives came over for their daily check-up. I told them my stomach was hurting still and I didn’t feel well.
They told me they had to amputate my limbs. My heart sank
Khedidja Teape
“They blamed it on me giving birth and told me to take painkillers. But after that, the pains got worse.
“Soon, I was throwing up green and yellow vomit. I had diarrhoea and body aches. I lost my appetite, couldn’t eat and I was shivering constantly.
“Shawn looked after the twins in the night as I struggled in pain. A week after I gave birth, I felt like I was going to die.
“Even though the midwives told me I was fine, I listened to my gut feeling and called an ambulance.”
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Twenty minutes later, paramedics arrived and raced Khedidja back to the same hospital she gave birth.
There, her heart rate was dangerously high, her blood pressure was dropping, and she fell in and out of consciousness.
Khedidja says: “They ran CT scans and tests; trying to figure out the problem. I didn’t know what was going on.
“But I ended up in intensive care, and doctors guessed that I had an inflammation in my wound from having the babies.
All my limbs, and my nose were black
Khedidja Teape
“Then a doctor said I might have an abscess inside my womb, and that they needed to do surgery to drain it.
“Everything happened so fast, but before I knew it, I was being wheeled into the emergency theatre.”
When Khedidja next opened her eyes, Shawn was by her side, who informed her that she was battling a Strep A infection which had developed into port-partum sepsis.
Near-death experience
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Doctors claimed if she hadn’t called an ambulance, she wouldn’t have made it through the night.
Khedidja says: “In disbelief, I looked down at my body. All my limbs, and my nose were black.
“In shock, it took me days to accept it. I didn’t understand why it had happened to me.
“Shawn brought the kids to me, and I had the twins lay on my chest. I wished I could just go home.”
Horrific news
Days later, Khedidja went mute, unable to respond to anyone, and suffered with hallucinations.
Doctors worried the sepsis had travelled to her brain, but thankfully, she eventually started to speak again.
The next month, in May 2023, a team of doctors prepared Khedidja and her family for the worst.
She says: “They told me they had to amputate my limbs. My heart sank.
When I woke up, I couldn’t feel anything
Khedidja Teape
“I begged them not to and to see how much I healed first, but they said they had no choice because the skin was dead.
“I kept pleading, but they wouldn’t listen. For the next few months, I visited the rehab centre and met other amputees who helped me feel better.
“They told me my life wouldn’t stop. I became a bit optimistic after that.”
After giving the green light to the hospital to go ahead, Khedidja signed consent forms for the amputation in August 2023 last summer.
Khedidja says: “They decided to do it in two parts. The first one they amputated my legs, left arm, one hand, and the fingers on the other.
“When I woke up, I couldn’t feel anything. I was glad it was over, and that I’d survived.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
Call 999 or go to A&E if they are suffering any of them.
Source: The NHS
“Two weeks later, I had another operation. They made the stumps and amputated more of the dead parts of my left arm.
“This time after waking, I was in agony. The drugs didn’t work as well as the last time.
“But I told myself every day I needed to stay strong to get home to my family.”
Regaining her life
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In October that year, Khedidja was moved into a rehab centre, where she lived.
Every day she did rehab, learning exercises and adapting to her new body.
On the weekends, they allowed her to go home and be with her family.
Khedidja says: “I worked so hard in the week, getting stronger. In time, I began learning how walk with sockets in.
“And after the New Year, I received my fitted prosthetics.
“After nearly four months at the centre, I was able to move back home. Now, I can walk independently, and I’m doing amazing.
“My twins are healthy and happy and are 1 years old. I can even carry them now in the crook of my arm.
“My life may have been flipped upside down, but at least my babies, and my older kids, still have their mum.
“I want more awareness to be raised about sepsis.
“Cancer is so well known, but people don’t realise how dangerous sepsis is too, and how many people die.
“It destroyed my body, and nearly killed me. If you have experience any of these symptoms, call 999 immediately.
“Not even health professionals knew. Listen to your gut.”
Khedidja has launched a GoFundMe as she raises funds for advanced prosthetics limbs, maintenance of wheelchairs, therapy, mobility aids, adaptions to her home and support for her family.
Symptoms of a Strep A infection
Strep A is a common type of bacteria and most infections from it are mild and easily treated with antibiotics.
Some infections, however, can become more serious.
Common symptoms of a Strep A infection include:
- flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body
- sore throat (strep throat or tonsillitis)
- a rash that feels rough, like sandpaper (scarlet fever)
- scabs and sores (impetigo)
- pain and swelling (cellulitis)
- severe muscle aches
- nausea and vomiting
The NHS says you should trust your instincts if you think your child is seriously ill – you know better than anyone else what your child is usually like, so you’ll know when something is very wrong.
You should call 999 or go to A&E if:
- your child is having difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises, or you may notice their tummy sucking under their ribs
- there are pauses when your child breathes
- your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue or grey – on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake