THE loss of both legs and her lower left arm, and several fingers on her right hand, was an horrific experience for Crosshill woman Marguerite Henderson, but without the amputations she would not be alive.

After six months in hospital Marguerite is trying hard to come to terms with what has befallen her and she stressed this week it is the backing of the people of Benarty and the wider Central Fife community that has given her a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

Now the former family support worker with Fife Education Department is looking ahead to making a new life with the limitations that contracting Sepsis in the early part of the year has left her with.

The 55 year-old said this week: "It all started with something as small as a paper cut.

"I suddenly started to feel unwell but really did not think it was anything to worry about.

"However, my daughters were concerned and insisted I get medical advice and I found myself at the Victoria Hospital where it was discovered I had Sepsis.

"It was a relatively slow process with doctors trying hard to fathom how this debilitating condition was going to affect me but when I found skin coming off my legs and both of them turning black I realised that things were going from bad to worse."

Her arms started to go the same way and the medics assessed that the only way Marguerite would be able to survive would be to have to amputate her poisoned limbs.

She added: "One by one they had to come off and I was left thinking to myself, how on earth am I going to be able to live with no legs and no left arm and only a few fingers on my right hand."

Her daughters and son-in-law spoke with the doctors at the Vic and they discovered that eventually Marguerite could have a quality of life with prosthetic legs and arm and they started a fund to raise money to pay for the artificial limbs.

The reaction to the appeal from the community was something they just did not expect and they suddenly found themselves with a whole host of fundraising ventures taking place.

They set a target of £80,000 and by last week it was sitting at over £71,000 and when our reporter was speaking with Marguerite Senga Ritchie presented money to her raised by the Angels of Light Spiritualist Church in Benarty.

Added the Crosshill woman: "It has been unbelievable the way the community has supported the Fund.

"My family has been brilliant with my daughters and son-in-law Sean really working so very hard to help me get my bearings back after coming home from hospital.

"I feel that I am so lucky to live in Benarty. Without that community support I have received I would have been totally lost. It has given my goals to aim for which even at the worst of times in the hospital gave me real hope.

"Also the hospital staff, from the consultants to the nurses, were fantastic and with the Vic being my home for many months, they kept up my spirits.

"I cannot thank everyone enough and the financial support the fundraising has realised has given me the chance to have a special wheelchair which really gives me a level of mobility a manual wheelchair would not have done."

She is currently waiting for new prosthetic legs which she hopes will make her more independent but she re-iterated her thanks to the community.

The contributors include, Friends of Benarty, the Co-op in Lochore, a cabaret show, O'Hara clothing with a T shirt sale, a 70s and 80s disco held in Kirkcaldy, a sponsored walk at Lochore Meadows, Stacey Gunn and the Zodiac Dance School Charity show, Crannoch Meadowview Residential Care fundraiser at Lochore Institute, Guitar and Beats Night for Marguerite in Kirkcaldy, a charity fight night in Bowhill, Lodge Minto 385 fundraiser, music for Marguerite at the Glen and PJ Molloys, a firewalk, auctions, a clairvoyant night at Torleys in Lochgelly, Lochgelly childminders sponsored walk, Benarty Primary School baking sale, St Patrick's Primary School wear red for Sepsis Day, Lochgelly Co-op, Lodge Ballingry and various other lodges, the Fruit and Veg Shop Largs, the Craigie Bar, Lochore Castle FC, Benarty Bereavement Group, The Old Ship Lochgelly, B&Q Kirkcaldy, Fife Dog Training, Dunfermline Athletic FC, Cupar All Stars FC, Funeral Donations, Margaret Kirby Family Fund, Tommy Breslin, raffle tickets sold at Benarty Gala, donations from Andrea Florence and Bill, a donation from a lady in the Netherlands, a donation from a lady in the Isle of Man, the Mary Leishman Foundation who donated the wheelchair, the Justgiving page and a £10,000 donation from fiends of Marguerite's brother, Mario's Chippy collection jar, Benarty Gala stall,Benarty Astros FC with a sponsored run, a Quiz Night BT Dundee, East Fife Ladies Choir concert, Kats Mission Fundraiser, Glenrothes High School, Cowdenbeath Celtic Supporters Club, Jan Fraser Troon a coffee morning, Joanne/Charlie Erskine, Louise McLean, Debbie McLeod ran the Glenrothes half marathon and son Charlie (8) 4k run, Sam Schulz profit from Scentsy, Elaine, Michelle and Megan Thomson, walk from Ballingry to Forth Bridge, Chantelle Martin Candles, Florence and James Mackie After noon tea party, Marley Muir home made slime sale, Dawn Keenan roller skating half marathon, Lorna Bett hen night, Katy Stevens raffle, Amber Livingston football squares, Lynne Vanbeck Kerr Gin event, Rowan Beauty studio raffle, The Loft Lochgelly, sponsored cycle Cerys Bowman and Gracie McPherson, The Dance Studio Dunfermline Laura McFadden Pole session, Spencer House Nursing Home resident, Benarty Community Shop sweetie jar, Malone's School of Dance sponsored walk, Co-op Dundee Clare Shepherd, Cowdenbeath Rotary Club, local businesses and community who handed in donations and raffle prizes.

Also help with house Colm Curran Architects no charge, Fraser Spence/Gordon Shepherd, painter and decorators, work done free of charge, Pete McGuire roughcaster no charge for labour, Muir Timber cash prize for kit, Recycle Fife discount skips.

Next week we look at how Marguerite sees the future.