Erica Savy-Ward lost both hands and feet through a life-threatening battle with pneumococcal meningitis infection in June 2010.

The former Bendigo resident’s family needs to raise money for a right myo-electric hand for Erica which will cost $52,800.

The hand, which will be operated by Erica’s arm muscles, will restore the 60-year-old’s ability to carry out complex tasks through finer finger movements.

The cause of Erica’s bout with pneumococcal meningitis was unknown, but the fast-acting infection had cut off blood circulation to her hands and feet and attacked her renal system within a matter of hours.

Living in Adelaide at the time, she was taken to the intensive care unit at Lylell McEwin Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where doctors decided to amputate. She spent 10 days, which included her 59th birthday, in an induced coma. At the end of last year Erica was released from hospital and is presently learning to walk on prosthetic legs through physiotherapy in her home city Melbourne.

While Erica has a left myo-electric hand which allows her the simple ability to grab certain items, the right hand will allow her to do much more.

“It’s going to give her a better quality of life,” Erica’s brother Peter said.

Based in Bendigo, Peter, his wife Brenda and the rest of the Savy family have organised the Give a Hand charity day. It will be a four person Ambrose (any combination) par three event at the Belvoir Park Golf Club on March 18.

The family hopes to raise about $8000 to go towards the purchase of Erica’s right myo-electric hand.

Ahead of the big fundraising day, the family said they only wanted to see Erica happy and save others from the same experience.

They urge anyone over 65 to speak with their doctors about access to a free immunisation against pneumococcal.

A sense of humour, coupled with family support, has helped Erica along her road to recovery.

“She’s incredible I don’t know how she’s managed to get through it all, but she does have an incredible sense of humour. She’s a real character,” Brenda said of her sister-in-law.

“She wouldn’t have got through it though without her husband Rob Ward. He has been a tower of strength for all of us.”

Details of the golf fundraiser will run in the Bendigo Advertiser on Monday.