Belfast grandmother battles sepsis in Dubai while aiding pregnant daughter

Lesley Poots, a 58-year-old woman from Belfast, traveled to Dubai to assist her pregnant daughter, Lauren. Unfortunately, during her visit, she contracted a severe sickness bug that led to her developing sepsis. On September 15, she began showing symptoms, and her condition worsened significantly by the following Friday, prompting her daughter to take her to the hospital for treatment. Upon arrival at the emergency department, Lesley was found unconscious and unresponsive. Medical staff quickly identified that she was suffering from sepsis and organ failure, which required immediate intensive care. Doctors indicated that she was critically ill and had been close to death when discovered. Currently, Lesley is on a ventilator and undergoing kidney dialysis due to severe liver failure. The family has been informed that her condition is dire, and they are unable to stay with her during this critical time. The medical expenses have already reached £15,000 within the first 24 hours, and they anticipate costs could escalate to hundreds of thousands. In light of these overwhelming circumstances, Lauren has initiated an online fundraiser to help cover the medical bills and potential costs of flying her mother back to the UK if she recovers. The family is grateful for the support they have received but is also facing the emotional toll of the situation, hoping for a miracle in Lesley’s recovery.