Caroline Fonjock's Battle with Necrotising Fasciitis
Caroline Fonjock credits the swift intervention of NHS medical staff for saving her life after she contracted a rare and severe infection. The 45-year-old social worker initially noticed what she thought was a boil in her upper groin while feeling unwell.
At first, Caroline believed she had a routine urinary infection, but within 36 hours her condition deteriorated rapidly. She experienced episodes of unconsciousness and vomited what she described as "black tar." Doctors later diagnosed her with necrotising fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection that destroys tissue beneath the skin, requiring emergency surgery to survive.
Caroline, who lives near Haverhill, Suffolk, has type 2 diabetes and a history of infections, but she says the speed of this infection was "just phenomenal." She recalls,
"I've had illnesses before but with all of them I felt in control."
Her illness worsened quickly in April 2021 during the Covid pandemic. What she initially thought was a small boil began to "track" up her leg, feeling like a "hardened tube." At Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, a consultant informed her that immediate surgery and multiple skin grafts were necessary, and she might need to spend up to a year in hospital.
Caroline remembers her reaction:
"My response was, 'No, no, no – I've got babies at home.'"However, she was told that going home was not an option. The consultant emphasized the urgency:
"If you don't do this, you'll be dead by morning."Caroline adds that the consultant "held my hand and I shed some tears."
During a "terrifying" operation, surgeons removed a large portion of her leg to halt the spread of the infection. When Caroline later saw images of the damage, she said she could "only describe it as looking like roadkill." Despite this, doctors were able to save her leg, which she describes as "astounding."
Caroline spent two weeks in intensive care in a coma. During this time, her body entered "survival mode," and multiple organs began to fail.
Her husband, Lionel, admits he had never heard of necrotising fasciitis before her diagnosis. After researching the condition and consulting medical professionals, he understood its severity. He then faced the difficult task of informing their daughters about the situation.
He recalls,
"It was the most difficult thing to kind of break to them… and say to them 'It's a possibility mum might not come back home.'"One of their daughters asked,
"What are we going to do?"Lionel responded,
"We are going to pull together and support each other."
When Caroline regained consciousness, she had a tracheotomy and was unable to speak. She had also lost her fine motor skills. A friend brought a whiteboard to help her communicate, but she struggled, saying,
"I was so desperately in distress. I couldn't write. It was a really terrifying moment."
Caroline had to relearn how to walk after her muscles deteriorated. Five years later, she describes her recovery as long but expresses gratitude for being alive.
"I'm lucky to have my leg and I'm lucky to have my life,"she says.
"But to be able to walk and play with my children and niece and nephew again is amazing."
Understanding Necrotising Fasciitis
Necrotising fasciitis is a rare but serious bacterial infection that destroys tissue beneath the skin. It can resemble cellulitis but spreads rapidly and requires urgent hospital treatment. The infection typically enters through a break in the skin, although an obvious cause is not always identified. Caroline herself does not know how she contracted the infection.
Individuals with weakened immune systems or conditions such as diabetes are at higher risk. According to the NHS, warning signs include severe pain, redness, blisters, changes in skin colour, and vomiting.
Caroline is among 87 patients included in a 10-year study at Addenbrooke's Hospital, covering cases from January 2015 to March 2025. Researchers found that age and underlying conditions such as heart or kidney disease increase the risk of death. The study also revealed that while high white blood cell counts are usually a warning sign, in severe infections a low count may indicate the immune system is becoming overwhelmed.
The study, published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, aims to improve early recognition of necrotising fasciitis. Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Charles Loh stated,
"Necrotising fasciitis is a very serious condition. It has a one in four chance of death within 30 days. It progresses rapidly. Patients become gravely ill, often require organ support in intensive care, and it takes a major toll on the body."
Caroline's Reflection and Gratitude
Caroline feels fortunate to live near Addenbrooke's Hospital and remains grateful for the care she received. She says,
"I absolutely cherish the NHS and the emergency care that we have. They pinpointed so quickly what was wrong and how sick I was, and that meant I survived. To this day I don't know how they did it."
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