Dennis Hallberg

Survivor

My story is one that today almost 9 months later is hard for me to tell. I was not feeling all that well for a couple of weeks. There are 6 main sepsis symptoms and I had everyone of them and just thought it was a cold or flu. I had intermittent fever and I was cold. My best friend told me I looked pale.

I had on and off periods of confusion. At around 7 pm on a Friday, the worst pain I ever experienced kicked in. On a scale of 1-12 my pain was a 50. My wife convinced me to go to the emergency room after I told her maybe I will see if it is better in the morning. She saved my life. I felt like I was dying.that is how much pain I was in.

At the hospital they did a CAT scan and saw I had this growth in my small intestine that was gangrene and leaking out poisoned blood. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) The doctor said it is the beginning of sepsis and it is very serious. Because I was on warfarin because of a condition called a-fib, they could not operate until I had 4 units of plasma because my blood was thin and I might have bled to death on the operating table.

All through the night I was in so much pain. I was begging for surgery. At 9am on Saturday, they did the surgery and the doctor said “your growth was on the verge of exploding and if it did  most likely you would have died in your sleep the next night. You felt sick because the growth was leaking out the poisoned blood (sepsis).”

After the surgery I still was being treated for sepsis and it took me 3 months just to start feeling better. The doctor told my wife and I that I am lucky to be alive and I feel that I was given a second chance and I am  going to give back by joining the Sepsis Alliance out of Orland Park, Il, and I am going to help raise funds to get the word out to the public about the dangerous symptoms of this fatal infection that almost took my life. Please heed any warning signs and go to the ER and tell them you might think you have sepsis.

I had the infection picking up speed in my intestine and I feel fortunate that I am still living and my heart breaks for those who have suffered the lost of one of their family members. Thank you for reading my story. I hope it inspires others to never give up.

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