Bobbie Weiler

In 2008 I had a small melanoma removed from my upper arm. Fortunately, the cancer had not spread. However, approximately 7 days following surgery the scar began to ooze and I had a low-grade fever and chills. I returned to the office of the doctor who did the surgery and was told to drink water and rest, that the infection did not look serious to her. (Sepsis and Surgery)

The next day I was dizzy, unable to walk. I called my daughter who took me to the Riverside Hospital emergency room. I remember nothing about this. The nurses told my husband that I was seriously ill. Later in the day I was admitted and had a tracheotomy and an incredible number of IVs. Later I had a feeding tube. I was in ICU for over two weeks and then in a specialty hospital to have the tubes removed. All in all, I was hospitalized for five weeks.

There is no doubt that my daughter’s taking me to the hospital and the recognition of sepsis by the nurses and doctors at Riverside saved my life.

I was very lucky. I am fine now. This is being written by my husband in that I have little memory of being taken to the emergency room or being in ICU.