Powerful story of how a young woman who lost BOTH her legs to meningococcal was able to create a fashion empire and focus on loving herself after splitting with her boyfriend
A young woman who lost both her legs to meningococcal has revealed how she was able to defy odds to launch a successful fashion brand.
Juttima Chinnasri, 30, went to bed early one night in October 2018, concerned that her high fever was a sign on an oncoming flu.
But the Sydney woman's symptoms were a sign of the disease, that could have cost her life.
The next morning she woke covered in blotchy, dark rashes and was rushed to St George Hospital where doctors confirmed she had meningococcal B - and the deadly bacteria had seeped throughout her system, poisoning her blood.
Juttima Chinnasri, 30, (pictured in July, 2018) went to bed one night in October 2018 with flu symptoms and woke up the next morning covered in a deadly rash
Ms Chinnasri body was coated in black splotches, diagnosed as meningococcal disease, and comatose for ten days
The deadly bacteria gave her blood poisoning, which turned her fingers and legs black
For the following ten days, while in an induced coma, her family waited nervously as hospital staff desperately tried to save her life.
Although the workers managed to keep her alive, Ms Chinnasri's legs, feet and fingers turned black and could not be spared.
Her limbs were amputated, leaving her wheelchair bound and in hospital for three months as she learned to adjust to life without them.
Two years on, Ms Chinnasri has broken her silence on TikTok to share how the experience has changed her life for the better.
The entrepreneur posted a video on Thursday featuring a collection of photos documenting her journey before and after her surgery.
Next to a photo of her with her ex-boyfriend, she wrote: 'Me before 2018, in my longest relationship of five plus years, with but I was insecure and had zero self love.'
The slideshow then progresses through a series of images of her in hospital with bandages covering her wounds, before showing her in more recent times returning to normal activities with her prosthetic legs.
The Sydneysider was placed into an induced coma for ten days and was told when she woke her limbs would have to be amputated
The 30-year-old says she has more self love now than she did before the life changing experience
One shot shows her walking along the beach, while in another she is doing squats at a gym. A third photo shows her busy unpacking boxes of clothes for her business.
'This is me after a life changing experience and me back to focusing on myself,' she wrote alongside the pictures.
'Now I have unlimited self love and I am the strongest I have ever been.'
Ms Chinnasri started her fashion business, Dolled Up, with her partner in 2015 and was working on it while studying full time when she fell ill.
After leaving hospital, she moved into her parents' Kogarah home while she learned how to walk again and was inspired to keep running the business on her own to make other women feel beautiful.
'While I was struggling in recovery at home, I started to get insecure and depressed,' her website reads.
'Fortunately, I started working on my mental health early and I realised that also most always, putting little effort to dress better had such a huge impact on my mood.'
The entrepreneur is back to working on her fashion business Dolled Up, and hopes to inspire other women to feel beautiful in their own skin
Ms Chinnasri moved back into her parents' Kogarah home after leaving hospital while she relearns how to walk. She is pictured at physiotherapy
Ms Chinnasri has revealed she fell into a depression while learning to adjust without her legs and fingers
'I learnt to accept my new body and began to think how I can use my experience to help others.'
'This is when I knew I wanted to keep DOLLED UP CO. going, so I can provide pieces that make other women feel amazing.'
Ms Chinnasri said she knew returning without her legs and fingers would be 'tough' but she feels like she is still 'here for a reason'.
'I want my story and DOLLED UP CO. to showcase and encourage women to stop worrying about what others think of them and to practice self-love and body positivity,' she wrote.
'From just aiming to own a boutique to sell cute clothes, I now want to use this business and the platform that I have to empower everyone, especially women, that no matter what happened to you, you're beautiful just the way you are.'
WHAT IS MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE?
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can cause death within hours if not recognised and treated in time.
There are five main strains of the infection, each of which now have a vaccine available in Australia.
Although the majority of victims will recover fully, 10% of those infected will die, and around 20% will have permanent disabilities.
If left untreated, the disease is fatal.
Amputation is not uncommon. Neither is organ failure and kidney damage, with extreme cases requiring long-term dialysis.
Babies and children up to five-years-old account for two-thirds of cases due to their less mature immune system.
Source: Meningococcal Australia