A “miracle” Essex woman who was due to have her life support turned off after taking an overdose due to alleged bullying has “defied all odds against her” and is now awake and conscious, her family has said. Emma Price, 32, from Basildon, has been in the hospital after her family found her unresponsive at home.
Emma was placed on life support and was receiving round-the-clock care due to her serious condition, and last week doctors believed she was brain dead and were due to switch off her life support on Monday (July 22).
However, in a remarkable turn of events, the decision to end the life support was delayed, and on Wednesday (July 24), Emma’s family confirmed she had woken up and recognised them. The family said she has managed to breathe on her own for periods of time and has managed some facial expressions and limited movements, such as squeezing someone else’s hand.
The family said it would be “many, many months” or even years until Emma may be able to leave the hospital, but said she is “moving to recovery and no longer just surviving.” In an update shared with EssexLive, her brother Jamie Price has thanked all their friends and loved ones for the enormous support shown so far and to the medical teams who got her to the hospital and continue to provide ongoing treatment.
Mr Price said: “Emma is now awake and conscious. She can remember us. She is aware of what happened. She wasn’t aware where she was or how long she had been there. She is communicating via head movements and some limited facial expressions. Such as rolling her eyes back.
“Her left side has limited movement of her left arm. She can touch her face. Touch her nose with a fist. She cannot do fine movements such as finger to nose yet. Medical teams have been giving respite from her ventilator and I’m pleased to report that on more than one occasion she has breathed for herself over 30 minutes.
“She still has infections on her lungs. And the world on her shoulders for recovery. I’m pleased to say as a family that we are moving towards recovery. And no longer surviving.”
Mr Price said it is “far too early to tell” for sure if Emma will be able to return home but the family “remain hopeful”. He continued: “We hope that as time progresses Emma’s recovery can continue to be positive. Defy all odds against her. And live a happy healthy life. However and wherever that may be. She has a photo of her and her dog, which she keeps extremely close to her. Her passion for animals has not stopped.”
Mr Price said that his sister “wants to live”. He added: “I want to thank you truly from the bottom of my heart for everything you continue to do. And have done in aiding my sister’s miracle. Just five days ago I was in a room with doctors preparing to turn off my sister’s life support with my family. An impossible decision.
“I hope this brings some happiness to your life today that a miracle really did happen. And you are all part of this. Please find happiness knowing you are making a difference to the people around you. And you’re cared for. Wanted and loved by all.”
Mr Price said the money raised on the family’s GoFundMe page will be used to support any needs Emma may have moving forward, and “not a penny” will be spent until this is known.
Emma had told her family that she was being overworked while other staff members did nothing and that she caught them talking about her behind her back. She said she was told she was “causing trouble” and would regularly come home crying from the stress of being overworked.
Emma, described by her parents as a “bubbly, kind-hearted person”, had been working at KFC for eight years when she was subject to the alleged bullying which began in the latter half of 2023. The family previously expressed their anger that KFC had told them they would carry out an internal investigation – but that the firm had not asked about Emma’s condition.
A KFC spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with Emma and her family at this difficult time. Maintaining a working environment that is safe and inclusive for all team members is essential for us as a business. These allegations are being taken extremely seriously and an urgent investigation into the matter is already underway.”
Emma’s family has expressed gratitude to the NHS and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust for their support.
Sadly, most businesses—big or small—never stand by you if you report bullying at work; they are only there to defend their interests. There are no protections for their staff, and most HR will placate that person, but do nothing about it except backstab them and label them a troublemaker.
Most businesses and companies have a list of rules that they must abide by, they’re called ‘terms and conditions’. The trouble is those ‘terms and conditions’ aren’t for them, they are for you, the employee.
Although we believe HR’s role is to safeguard employees, in reality, it is to safeguard the business.
Emma’s situation should not have been allowed to continue, and HR should have stepped in and done a full assessment. This poor lady must have been very desperate to have taken her own life, and this should not have happened!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 