A SERIOUSLY ill mum-of-two who has inspired complete strangers to give money to help her is in a “dark place”, her family have said.

Tracy Ralph, 35, from Hawkwell, had her legs amputated after contracting meningitis and remains on a high dependency unit ward in hospital.

Her sister-in-law Amanda Ralph said Tracy, who worked for Clarins at Debenhams in Southend, was still yet to see her children since falling ill over Christmas.

Tracy was training to run the Brentwood half marathon, but went to the doctor on Christmas Eve, after complaining of shortness of breath, and was admitted to hospital with pneumonia.

She was placed in an induced coma the following day, which she came out of on New Year’s Eve, but after contracting meningitis, septicemia, suffering complete organ failure and battling deadly blood clots, she had her legs amputated below the knee, as well as her fingers.

Amanda said: “She’s not good. She still has problems with her lungs and is not out of the woods.

“She is aware of what has happened, but doesn’t understand why it has happened.

“It’s only just over a week since she had her legs removed, so she is in a dark place and very, very low.

“I cannot imagine what it must be like for her.”

Tracy is now out of the intensive care unit at St Thomas Hospital, London, but remains on the high dependency ward and it is not known when she will be well enough to return to Southend.

Tracy’s husband Brad, 37, has kept their two boys, fouryear- old Miller and 19-month-old Hudson, away from hospital and wants to wait until she is back in Southend before they see her.

Amanda added: “Hudson is too young, but Miller knows what’s going on now. Brad understandably has his good days and bad days, he’s at the hospital every day and did one media interview for the BBC, but couldn’t face anymore.”

Brad, speaking publicly for the first time since Tracy fell ill, spoke to BBC Look East on Tuesday.

He said: “I cannot put into words how frightening and terrifying this has been for all of us.

“We almost lost her twice within the space of three weeks, so she fought the odds.

“I would say she did it for the kids.”

Amanda set up a fundraising page on Monday, January 19, which has now reached its original £100,000 target.

The goal has now been reset to £250,000 and Amanda said the family had been overwhelmed by people’s generosity.

She said: “We will be continuing to raise money as there are still so many events to take place and still so much left to do.

“We are in no way ungrateful, but think that by raising the target to £250,000 we feel we can achieve great things.

“Tracy and her family’s life changed so dramatically in a blink of an eye and this is a life-changing sum of money.”

To donate to Tracy’s cause, visit www.youcaring.com//medical-fundraiser/help-tracy-get-back-on-her-feet/293454

Firm's offer of running blades for Tracy Ralph

MONEY may be flooding in to help Tracy and her family, but a company may be able to provide her with artificial running legs.

Sheffield-based prosthetics company Blatchford, who provide clinical services to the NHS, military and independent sectors, have now come forward to offer Tracy running blades as well as help and advice for her rehab.

Amanda Ralph, Tracy’s sister- in-law, said: “The offer is absolutely amazing and Brad is pretty emotional about it.

“At the moment she’s not even thinking about walking, but it’s a bit mindblowing to be offered running blades and we’re just so grateful.

“When it comes to the point of Tracy being ready to think about running again then they have said they will be there with anything we need.”

Blatchford’s offer of running blades mean the family will still rely on the NHS for everyday walking prostheses.

Colette Shaw, Blatchford product manager, said: “Last year we fitted a seven-year-old with some running blades after she had meningitis and Tracy’s case is sadly very similar, so it struck a chord with us.

“We would like to extend an offer to help Tracy in whatever way we can, our clinicians would be happy to speak with Tracy’s family to offer advice and guidance about her prosthetic rehab and eventually getting back to running and an active lifestyle.”