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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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Nan A.

Survivor

In July 2021 I had a routine gallbladder removal op. Next day I developed an extremely high temperature/fever and had severe abdominal pain. (Sepsis and Surgery) I was airlifted to another hospital where I was diagnosed with sepsis. I spent a month there. Three months on I am struggling with severe muscular pain and hair loss. Emotionally I feel extremely low. It has completely affected me physically and emotionally and I feel thankful that I survived. Read Full Story

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Missy H.

Survivor, Survivor

What can one say about their story? I remember being so hot and so cold and came to a point where I couldn’t even get out of bed. My body had lost control. My youngest daughter called my older daughter to see if she could come over because it stank in the house. The stench was me. My daughters saved my life literally. I don’t remember much and, I was told when I was taken to the hospital they asked me my name and I didn’t know it. The first thing I do remember is the PICC line coming out ... Read Full Story

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Paul Bechtelheimer

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

It still amazes me that you can be absolutely fine one day and in intensive care the next day. My husband, Paul, went to work on a Thursday and started to feel ill. He came home early which was very uncharacteristic of him. We thought he had the flu. The next day he ended up in the emergency room and ultimately the ICU. Thankfully the doctor in the emergency department recognized the Paul was showing all the signs of sepsis and started treatment immediately. Paul was running a fever and was incoherent at times. He felt better after some fluids, ... Read Full Story

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Cynthia Ellis

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I am 48 years old. I am in excellent shape. I walk 4 miles every day, I’m not overweight. I don’t smoke or drink. This is my story of survival. I had just been released from hospital after a simple (total/both breast removal) mastectomy; as I was suddenly diagnosed with high grade spindle cell sarcoma (a rare cancer, which I can get self contained tumors within soft tissues of my body at any time). (Sepsis and Cancer) All was well for the first 2 days when I suddenly just didn’t feel very well. I felt flushed and exhausted but checked ... Read Full Story

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Kari Wilford

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I had surgery to save my left kidney in August 2019. Within a day of being released from the hospital, I had severe joint pain and a rising fever. (Sepsis and Surgery) The next day I woke up with chills so I called my doctor who assumed I probably picked up a bug and put me on antibiotics. A few more days went by and I went to the ER because I was feeling run down and the antibiotic didn’t seem to be helping. The ER doctor put me on a different antibiotic and thankfully told me to drop everything ... 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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