Georgiana Zipse

My story I’m sure it’s similar to many. I never heard the word sepsis until I’m staring at my mother as she takes her last breath in her hospital bed.
It was a normal Tuesday afternoon. I had left work to pick up my daughter from church. And I noticed my mom’s house was quiet and the doors were shut. It was a hot afternoon so it was a little odd. I pulled over and decided to look through the window on her front door. I noticed that she was laying on her kitchen floor. I opened up the door as fast as I could. She was laying on her floor gasping for air. I immediately called 911.

When the medics arrived they did their normal routine and took her to the closest hospital. After I arrived I was able to go into the emergency room where they pumped in some antibiotics after I told them I remembered that she claimed she had a fever. She regained consciousness for about a minute and a half. I was able to tell her that she was OK and that I loved her. Little did I know that would be the last time that I ever spoke to her.

The whole evening is a blur. And the next four hours felt like an eternity. Doctor after doctor coming in asking me questions and having me make life decisions. After hours of trying to pump antibiotics in her system and many other fluids, I was told that there was nothing else they could do. And all her major organs shut down and she was 100% Brain dead. It was very surreal and confusing not knowing how this happened.

My mom had neuropathy. And had pneumonia and was not aware. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) The pneumonia, which caused the fever, triggered sepsis. When the ICU doctor told me she was septic, I had no idea what that meant. I spent the last couple years trying to be a voice and trying to make people aware of the signs of sepsis.
That day I lost my mother and my best friend.

Source: Kristina Keller (daughter)