For two years, Sarah and Luke Wintrip planned their perfect destination wedding in Jamaica, but little did they know, it would almost cost the bride her life and she had to be rushed to hospital.
The newlyweds tied the knot on May 16 at Sandals Ochi Rios in Jamaica, surrounded by their close friends and family. Ahead of their big day, Sarah was filled with excitement, telling Newsweek that it was meant to be “the most magical celebration in paradise.”
Unfortunately, during the flight out, Sarah started to notice a pain in her groin that kept getting worse. While she knew something was wrong, the bride-to-be didn’t want to let anyone know, especially not her fiancé.
“I felt a gritty lump in my groin and thought I might’ve pulled something,” Sarah, 38, said. “But I didn’t want to spoil the holiday, so I ignored it and tried to carry on as if nothing was wrong.
“I didn’t tell anyone, not even Luke. I nearly fainted in front of my bridesmaids on the morning of the wedding, but I laughed it off and pushed through. I didn’t want to ruin the day or cause worry. It was so important to me that Luke had the perfect day.”
Sarah, from Essex, U.K., managed to make it through the ceremony and officially became Mrs. Wintrip.
@lipsticknlouboutins_ / dcmedia.uk / Instagram
Everyone in attendance was delighted for the happy couple, but they had no idea that Sarah was running on “sheer willpower,” painkillers, and adrenaline.
As the agony continued, she kept telling herself to make it through the day. This was her wedding and she wanted it to be unforgettable.
Unfortunately, it became memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Sarah said: “I knew it was serious, but I couldn’t admit it. This was our dream day, and I couldn’t bear the thought of it not happening. So, I made sure it did, even if it killed me (which it nearly did).
“We never had our first dance because I knew I’d collapse. I didn’t dance at all, other than part of one song at the end of the night that my friends pulled me up for. I had this stunning wedding dress with a corset that I loved, but I had to take it off within an hour because it hurt too much.”
The day before flying back to the U.K., Sarah finally told Luke, 36, about the pain she was experiencing. It was clear she needed to get to hospital, but she insisted on returning home before receiving medical attention.
It was an excruciating 10-hour flight, but Sarah did her best to sleep through it. With an hour left before landing, she awoke in agony and had to be given an oxygen mask to help her breathe.
She was in and out of conscious by the time they landed and was medically evacuated from the plane. Sarah and Luke were taken to the nearest hospital via ambulance, by which time she’d become unresponsive.
Medical staff ran several tests as soon as the newlyweds arrived, but Sarah doesn’t remember much of it.
“They found that I had a ruptured infected cyst in the inguinal canal, and I was in full-blown sepsis. My body was shutting down, and even before they told me, I could feel it. I wasn’t fully aware of everything, but I could feel my body giving up. I knew I was dying,” Sarah told Newsweek.
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that happens when an underlying infection triggers a chain reaction throughout the body. Around 1.7 million American adults develop sepsis every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The common symptoms include clammy or sweaty skin, confusion, extreme pain, fever, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath.
Only a matter of days before, the couple vowed to love each other through sickness and in health. That was quickly put to the test, as Luke didn’t leave his wife’s side. He slept on the floor and even in the hospital corridors to stay with her.
@lipsticknlouboutins_ / dcmedia.uk / Instagram
Doctors hoped to get the infection under control with antibiotics, but it proved too advanced, and Sarah was rushed into emergency surgery.
The infected cyst was removed, and Sarah has a machine connected to her groin that drains the fluid. She remains under close observation and is yet to find out if she requires further surgery.
“The recovery is slow and painful. My organs hurt, especially my kidneys, and I’m constantly exhausted,” she said. “Ironically, our signature wedding cocktail was Mai Tied the knot, and we nearly didn’t.”
After learning that she’d unknowingly got married while battling sepsis, Sarah posted about her experience on TikTok (@lipsticknlouboutins_). By documenting her symptoms and diagnosis, she hopes to raise awareness for sepsis and help others recognize the early signs before it’s too late.
Her TikTok videos have gone viral, one even generated over 1.3 million views in just a matter of days. The online reaction is beyond anything Sarah expected, adding that the support she’s received has “meant the world.”
For now, wedded bliss isn’t quite what Sarah and Luke had in mind as they continue to go back and forth between hospital visits. However, they’ve already started saving money to go on another vacation and “relive the wedding [they] never got” in the future.
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