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Patients & Family

Here you can find resources to help you or a loved one understand sepsis.

We are constantly adding new information, so please come back again to see what new features are available.

Diagnosed with Sepsis

You’re not alone

For anyone recently diagnosed with sepsis, this is the place to start. We cover the basics.

What Does it Mean

Faces of Sepsis

You’re not alone

Read stories from sepsis survivors and from people who have lost someone they love to sepsis. More than 1,000 stories cover the many types of infections that can cause sepsis, and the outcomes.

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Toni Shave

Survivor

I have spent 27 nights in total to date in hospital. I had 3 surgeries- 2 keyhole and one open abdominal surgery. I was diagnosed with sepsis twice. First due to peritonitis and the second due to intra abdominal infection. I wrote letters to my family as I KNEW I was going to die. I had numerous types of antibiotics, 57 injections/cannulas or blood tests (yes I counted 🤔) To start with, (1st 2 surgeries) they could not ‘grow the bugs’. Before 2 of the surgeries but particularly the last open procedure I was told to prepare for anything with ... Read Full Story

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Dawn D.

Survivor, Survivor

Hello, my name is Dawn I was 50 years old when it happened. On September 19, 2020 at around 10:00 pm I felt a terrible pain. This time I knew what the pain was a kidney stone. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) I waited but after a few hours I was in the ED. After pain meds and a few tests, they sent me home. Late Monday the pain stopped which normally would mean that the kidney stone reach the bladder. By Wednesday night the stone had not appeared, and I was in bad shape. Not enough blankets to warm me ... Read Full Story

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Kelley Crowe

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

My name is Kelley Crowe and I’m a mother of two, my son Ryan 28 and Samantha 24. On February 2017 I had to go in for a hysterectomy and everything seemed to go well during my initial recovery. One-week post op I started feeling ill and I became very swollen and in quite a lot of pain. (Sepsis and Surgery) I went to see the surgeon complaining about the pain and fever. He thought that it might be a simple bladder infection and sent me home with a requisition for a urine sample. By midnight I was extremely ill ... Read Full Story

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Duane Hodgin

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

At the age of 55, I contracted sepsis after rotator cuff surgery. Within a week of the surgery, a large, red, nodule developed on my shoulder. (Sepsis and Surgery) I went to my family doctor who had me immediately admitted to the hospital where tests determined I had sepsis. An infectious disease doctor was called to examine me. He said I was fortunate I got to the hospital when I did. I was treated with Lilly Pharmaceutical’s most powerful drug at the time. After four days on IV drips, I was sent home but had to continue daily IV treatment ... Read Full Story

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Annette S.

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

In August 2017, I went for small intestine/ colon surgery and liver resection to remove cancerous tumors. I was a few days post op and doing well. Then I started having shooting pains in the liver area that oral pain med didn’t touch, and then I developed heart rhythm abnormality, atrial fibrillation, which I’d never had before. (Sepsis and Surgery) Being a nurse, I noticed it on the monitor and pointed it out to doctors and nurses. They gave me IV medicine, which eventually did put my heart in rhythm. But I was still having severe pain. The doctors were ... Read Full Story

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Faces of Sepsis
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What is Sepsis?
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Military & Veterans

Many of today’s life saving medical and surgical procedures were first discovered or refined by the military.

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Mental Health

Sepsis survivors and family members of people who have had sepsis may find themselves experiencing emotional and psychological challenges that can make it difficult to move forward.

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It’s About Time™

It’s About TIME™ is a national initiative to raise awareness of sepsis and the urgent need to seek treatment when symptoms are recognized.

Early detection is the best hope to survive and limit disabilities when sepsis is present.
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Erin’s Campaign for Kids

IN MEMORY OF ERIN BUG FLATLEY | 1978 – 2002

Erin’s Campaign for Kids aims to combat the high incidence and mortality rates of sepsis among children. The campaign creates awards and training programs for nurses and other health professionals to help identify and treat a disease that, by conservative estimates, causes over 18 child deaths per day or 6,800 child deaths in the United States every year, more than pediatric cancers.

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