A WOMAN who had a brush with a silent killer is trying to set up a “badly needed” support group in North Wales.

Joanne Ellison, from St Asaph, and her mother Valerie Ellison are seeking to create an alternative support network for survivors of Sepsis to save an 100 mile round trip to the nearest in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Joanne, 52, was rushed to Glan Clwyd hospital in June last year, after suddenly falling ill after a week’s work in Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus as a line manager for childcare.

Joanne said: “I nearly died from a word I had never heard of and that is very, very frightening."

Sepsis is a common and often undetected condition triggered by an infection which causes the body’s immune system to go into overdrive, and if it not treated quickly, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Valerie, who lives Abergele, said: “I got a call from Joanne telling me she felt unwell and had a bit of a temperature - I thought it might be appendicitis.

“The scary thing is the doctors didn’t know where the infection was, it seemed to be everywhere. The doctors didn’t know whether they would have to give Jo a hysterectomy or an appendectomy.”

Joanne added: “What people don’t realise is the speed it takes from being fine to fighting for your life, it took less than 10 hours in my case. I was told I was hours away from dying.

“Glan Clwyd saved my life and I am so grateful they recognized the symptoms.”

Despite life saving treatment more than a year ago, recovery has been difficult for Joanne, and after attempting to return to part-time hours earlier this year she had to take a five month sabbatical in April.

An essential part of managing her recovery relies both Joanne and Valerie visiting a support group for survivors and their families.

Joanne said: “North Wales badly needs a support group and hopefully we can get one up and running because travelling all that way is hard, especially in the winter when the weather is bad.

“What people don’t realise is that on release from hospital your journey only just begins. It’s not like an operation and you will be back in work in six weeks. Most people after sepsis also have what is called Post Sepsis Syndrome."

The pair are currently trying to speak to other survivors of the condition, including a woman in Betws y Coed, to try and set up a meeting group in Wrexham once every three months.Both Joanne and Valerie have also been working to raise awareness by distributing leaflets to GP surgeries, scientists and chemists on behalf of the Sepsis Trust.

The Journal recently reported of Jeff Boughey of Rhyl, who died from Sepsis after being admitted to hospital with Tonsillitis. The former owner of Jay’s Cafe on Market Street, 62, died within two days of his wife Christine - who had been battling cancer - with neither knowing the other had died.

Valerie said: “I read the story in The Journal and realised I couldn’t just stand back any more and Joanne agreed that we need to set something up closer to home.”

Joanne added: “When mum and I started, there were no posters in hospitals, chemists, doctors surgeries and dental practices. There needs to be a country wide push so that all doctors and more should have information - I would like to see posters in every school, day nursery and nursing home.”