Darrell Raikes survived sepsis three years ago following routine knee replacement surgery. He submitted his Faces of Sepsis story to Sepsis Alliance in 2017, and he has been a tireless advocate for sepsis awareness ever since.
Darrell’s experience surviving sepsis was a rough one. He was on a ventilator, eventually given a tracheostomy. When he woke from his coma, he had lost so much muscle mass that he had to relearn how to move. Talking wouldn’t happen again until his trach was removed. Darrell now lives with several issues related to surviving sepsis, including PTSD and breathing issues related to the scarring in his lung.
But that experience hasn’t kept Darrell down. He takes his survival seriously and believes he needs to give back to the community. Darrell and his service dog, Harvey, have thrown themselves into his various volunteer roles. Darrell visits the University of Kentucky where he speaks with people in the ICU. He offers them compassion, advice, and hope. He is also an invited speaker at events, like the 2019 American Delirium Society Workshop. This new role is important to him. “I don’t want to see anymore die or go through the same experience I went through,” he said. “It’s been horrible to accept a new change in life but so much more rewarding than what I used to do. I wouldn’t change my life and go back.”
With his wife Sarah, Darrell also has partnered with the Kentucky chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, the FCCLA. This allows him to reach another type of audience to spread his message of sepsis awareness. He has given awareness presentations to about 40 schools in Kentucky so far. It is because of Darrell that the FCCLA Kentucky chapter chose Sepsis Alliance as their charitable organization last year, and has raised over $10,000 for the organization.
And when Darrell isn’t busy in the ICU or with the FCCLA, he is out hosting awareness events, like his fishing tournament. This former mechanical and tooling engineer has found a new purpose in his life, and it is making a difference to those people whose lives he touches. Looking forward, Darrell hopes that sepsis will no longer be an unknown to most people. “I see awareness continuing to rise,” he said. “I am working on a bill for Kentucky and hope other states follow. I want everyone to know what a red and black ribbon stands for as much as a pink one.”
Darrell exemplifies the spirit of the Erin K. Flatley Spirit Award. The award recognizes outstanding dedication, sacrifice, and contribution of people who work to improve the care and lives of patients with sepsis. It is our honor to give Darrell this award and it is our hope that he continues his work and continues to touch the lives of so many people in his community and beyond. Upon receiving the phone call telling him of the award, Darrell says he was elated, “and even a tear came to my eye. Such an honor.”
