Patients & Family

Sepsis Alliance provides information and resources to help you better understand your or your loved one’s sepsis diagnosis.

Diagnosed with Sepsis

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

Sepsis Basics

Sepsis Survivors

Some sepsis survivors recover completely and resume their lives, while others may struggle to cope with enduring effects of their illness. Here you can find information to help you navigate post-sepsis life.

Survivor Resources

Caregivers

When your loved one becomes ill with sepsis, you may not know what sepsis is or how to help them. Here are resources that may help you navigate this complex and difficult journey.

Caregiver Resources

Lost Loved Ones

Losing a loved one to sepsis can leave you with grief as well as many questions. Here are answers to some of the questions you may have after losing a loved one to sepsis.

Resources for Loved Ones

Sepsis Alliance Connect

Sepsis Alliance Connect is the virtual support community for anyone affected by sepsis.

Sepsis Alliance Connect

Faces of Sepsis

Catherine Benton

Survivor

Hi! My name is Cat. I’m a sepsis survivor. On January 9, 2025, there was a snowstorm headed towards Arkansas which I must admit, doesn’t happen often. The 3 weeks prior I had experienced urinating pain, fever, rapid breathing, and swelling. It didn’t matter what I did, it just got worse. I had no medical insurance at this time so I shrugged it off. I’m also a diabetic. So on that day while en route to finally see my doctor that my mother was going to pay for. I collapsed at his office. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections, Sepsis and ... Read Full Story

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Ann H.

Survivor, Survivor

On April 17th, 2025 I went to the walk in clinic with a very slight wheeze thinking my asthma was acting up. The nurse practitioner gave me some prednisone and said everything else looked okay. This was just a precaution. I took my first dose of prednisone that night. April 18th I felt great. No more wheeze and felt as if nothing had flared up. I took the dog for a run. While on the run I felt chilly so we went home. I was a bit tired and retired for the night around 10 pm. After about 1 hour ... Read Full Story

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Shama Dunlow

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

As a 19-year-old, I never thought I’d get sepsis. I initially thought it was bad asthma since the it started getting colder and with college and work, I thought maybe I was pushing myself too hard. It was Thanksgiving break and I was at work when I first started feeling out of breath. It felt like asthma, I didn’t feel sick. It wasn’t until 4 days later that I started to get a fever and my lungs felt like they were being weighed down. I couldn’t eat and I started to throw up throughout the night. It was the night ... Read Full Story

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Gary Barrett

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I was a healthy active 49 year old, participating in every sport I could find, after feeling unwell for about 10 days with pain and inflammation I went to the doctors I was told I had just pulled a muscle in my side and not to worry. At 1am I woke my wife up to say I could not stand the pain anymore and needed the hospital. She rushed me there and I collapsed at the entrance. I was unconscious for most of the following day, unaware of that I was losing the battle to live. The doctor, who I ... Read Full Story

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Cheryl Pedersen

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I’m a 64 year old woman, who loved to camp, swim and paddle in her kayak. In Aug 2022 I had a laminectomy for a herniated disc in my lumber spine. I have rheumatoid arthritis and have been on immunosuppressant drugs for a few years. I stopped them 10 days prior to surgery. I felt immediately better. Eleven days later I started to feel weak and generally unwell. On Day 12 I suddenly developed chills and a fever. I’d never had chills before. I looked on my discharge paperwork and my symptoms fell under the reasons to call the surgeon. ... Read Full Story

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