A courageous mother has shared her harrowing experience of giving birth to twins, which quickly turned into a life-threatening ordeal resulting in the loss of most of her limbs.
Following a healthy natural birth, 29-year-old Khedidja Teape from southwest London suffered from post-partum sepsis, narrowly escaping death’s door.
Despite the odds, the mother of four survived, albeit with the amputation of both legs, her left arm, one hand, and some fingers.
Today, Khedidja courageously speaks out to shed light on this deadly illness and educate others about its symptoms.
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, an entrepreneur running a craft business, and her partner of 12 years, Shawn Ayton, 32, a plumber, were eagerly anticipating the arrival of 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.”
In April 2023, Khedidja experienced a prolonged, natural labor at St George’s Hospital in London, lasting several days. She successfully delivered her son, Zakari, followed by her daughter, Zalaysia, just 45 minutes later. Both babies were declared healthy.
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.”
The following day, the family received the all-clear and was discharged from the hospital. Back home in London, Khedidja, like any new mother, felt exhausted caring for her newborns. However, while she was busy breastfeeding, she began to experience severe 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 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.”
Twenty minutes later, paramedics arrived and rushed Khedidja back to the same hospital where she had given birth.
Upon arrival, her heart rate was dangerously high, her blood pressure was dropping, and she drifted 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.
“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.
Doctors stated that if she hadn’t called an ambulance, she wouldn’t have survived 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.”
In the days that followed, Khedidja became mute, unable to communicate with anyone, and experienced hallucinations. Doctors feared that the sepsis had spread to her brain, but fortunately, she eventually regained her ability to speak.
In May 2023, a team of doctors braced Khedidja and her family for the worst.
She says: “They told me they had to amputate my limbs. My heart sank.
“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.
“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.”
In October of that year, Khedidja was transferred to a rehabilitation center, where she resided. Each day, she underwent rehabilitation, engaging in exercises and adjusting to her altered physique. During weekends, she was permitted to return home and spend time 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.