Mum-of-four to have both hands amputated after being bitten by family dog

A mother-of-four is facing a bill of more than $100,000 for prosthetic hands after a “tiny” bite by her family dog led to the unimaginable.

A British mum-of-four has had both her hands amputated after a bite from the family dog turned to sepsis.

Michelle Ellis was left with a small wound after the dog bit her on January 16 when she put it in its cage.

Over the next few days her condition severely worsened and she developed sepsis.

She was placed into an induced coma at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, England, and put on dialysis.

Her sister Melanie Ellis said she suffered multiple organ failure and was sedated for two weeks.

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Michelle Ellis was left with a small wound after being bitten by her dog. It is unclear if the dog pictured is the one which bit her. Picture: Facebook

“Her kidneys are still not working and the extent of the damage caused is uncertain at this time,” Melanie said.

“She is still unaware of the situation with her hands. They are waiting to see if she is strong enough to absorb this.”

Melanie said it will cost $57,000 for each hand to be replaced which a prosthetic one, which will need to be renewed every five years.

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Michelle in hospital with blackened fingers, prior to the amputations. Picture: GoFundMe

The coronavirus pandemic means Michelle’s worried family have not been able to visit her.

The family has launched a £100,000 ($A180,000) fundraiser and so far £2000 ($3600) has been donated.

Her daughter Keana, 24, said: “The fundraiser is to help pay for her rehabilitation and any costs that will come along with that.”

Michelle is pictured with her daughter Keana. She was placed in an induced coma after a dog bite caused a blood infection. Picture: GoFundMe

She said the family dog bit her as her mum put him in his cage.

“It was a tiny bite – around the size of a cigarette burn – so nothing was thought of it and she left it – and then this happened,” Keana said.

The dog is expected to be put down.

This story first appeared in The Sun and has been republished with permission