A FAMILY have been overwhelmed by public support after thousands of pounds was donated to help support a mum who has been left desperately ill.

While many families were celebrating Christmas, Tracy Ralph, 34, from Hawkwell, was rushed to Southend Hospital and placed in an induced coma after feeling short of breath on Christmas Eve.

She was found to have pneumonia and taken to St Thomas’s Hospital, in London, where she went on to suffer complete organ failure, meningitis, septicemia, blood clots, bleeding on the brain and has since had to have her legs amputated below the knee as well as her fingers.

Tracy’s terrible ordeal means she will need a huge amount of rehabilitation, so her family set up a fundraising site on Monday and by noon yesterday, it had raised £17,000.

Tracy’s sister-in-law, Amanda Ralph, said: “It’s really humbling, we were up to nearly £17,000 in less than 24 hours.

“We have had people who didn’t even know Tracy contributing and those saying they can’t afford much but giving what they can.

“Every penny will help Tracy and we are so grateful to everyone who has donated. We are raising the money for her rehab and ultimately the best prosthetic feet we can buy.”

Tracy’s husband Brad, 37, has been at Tracy’s side throughout the ordeal, but he has kept their children, four-year- old Miller and 19-month-old Hudson, away until their mum is up to seeing them.

She came out of her coma on New Year’s Eve and doctors at St Thomas’s are hopeful Tracy will be well enough to be transferred back to Southend next week, but she is still battling a potentially fatal blood clot.

Amanda added: “We have been living through it, but it has almost been an out of body experience. There has been no good news at all.

“We were close to losing her before she got transferred to London. The doctors said she might not make it at one point.”

Tracy, who works for Clarins, at Debenhams, in Southend, had been training to run the Southend Half Marathon later this year with Essex Ladies Running Club.

A fellow member has now taken her spot and will donate everything she raises to Tracy’s cause.

To donate and find out more about Tracy, visit www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-tracyget- back-on-her-feet/293454