Ed Fortuna

Ed Fortuna entered the hospital Thursday, April 9, 2015 with an infection, small one. He has had them in the past, but possibly the hospital waited too long to treat the infection because within 12-24 hours it turned into sepsis. The infection moved up his arm, swelled to an alarming size, the surface very warm. He was then placed in ICU where his organs began to fail. One by one, kidneys, heart. He was also a diabetic and there was considerable strain on his organs. (Sepsis and Diabetes) The infection was taking over. They decided to put Ed in an induced coma to help contain and treat the infection.

After some medication, it seemed as if Ed was going to pull through. He would need considerable rehabilitation, but he could continue to live a full life. A short time later, his family was notified that the worst had happened and his immune system could no longer protect him. His organs were in trouble once again. His heart slowed, his breathing slowed and Ed Fortuna passed away Tuesday night, April 14th.

The above story doesn’t include much emotion. It shows the medical side of sepsis and the fast stages this disease takes a patient through. It does not show the impact, the emotion or the heartache family and friends go through during this process. Your loved one is taken so quickly, so fast without having a moment to understand what’s going on. It grabbed a hold of my father’s life and never let go. I can’t say whether a quick death is harder than a prolonged one. Both hurt deeply and leave you empty and alone. But I never thought while visiting my dad in the hospital that week, that he would never come home again. He had so much more life to live.

My son was born just 3 months earlier. My father only had a few times to hug/hold/cuddle with my son, his first grandchild. Now, I keep memories of my father alive for my son. Others who have felt his loss: his wife of over 40 years, his eldest son., both of my dad’s siblings who were out of town at the time. Sepsis may not be well known but it is important that WE, the family and friends, tell others what it can do so we can recognize it sooner. What are the warning signs? Who is susceptible to this? We can certainly try to prevent other families from being torn apart by this disease. The world seems a lot gloomier without my Dad, his jokes, his smile, his hugs. We miss him everyday.

Source: Lisa (daughter)