Jane Sharp

Jane Sharp
Survivor

In July of 2015, I awakened in the ER for short periods of time. My fever was 104.5, and when asked questions like “who is the president now,” I responded with gibberish, as if I had a stroke. My answers were very jumbled. They did a CT of my whole body as well as MRI of my head. After 6 hours, I was moved to a floor that was a level under the ICU.

I had developed severe sepsis and the reason for the infection was never determined. The next day my speech was back, although limited. It all improved the next few days, and after five days at the hospital, I went home. I rested for the next few weeks and then went back to my job as a director at a school.

In mid-August of 2016, I once again woke up in the ER of the same hospital where I was in 2015. This episode left me a lot weaker than the first occurrence. I was fatigued and could not go back to my job for two weeks after I became ill. As before, they could not find the reason for the infection. They gave me several IV antibiotics that would finally bring my fever down. I feel like this one is lasting a long time. I take my temperature morning and night as requested by the team of five doctors at the hospital to see if I can see a pattern.

I check in morning and night with my family so that they know that I am alright. I do worry about getting sepsis again. Sepsis took a toll on my mind and body. I think I would feel better if I knew what the cause of my sepsis.
I do feel grateful for every day that I am here.

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