Jennifer Kitz

My name is Jennifer Kitz. I am 52 years old. On January 29, 2020, I was only sick for 3 days and I developed septic shock during that time. The evening before I was admitted to the hospital I had really bad pains on the left side of my back, a pain that I had never felt before. When I woke up the next day, I couldn’t breathe. The ambulance picked me up and delivered me to the hospital. The EMT applied sternal pressure stimulus on me. If it wasn’t for the EMTs, I would have been a DOA.

After I was admitted, doctors fought hard to see what was wrong with me but sepsis was not their primary concern (despite the symptoms). I spent 18 days on life support in the ICU. I was not able to breathe on my own. I was on dialysis, I had heart failure and respiratory failure. When I finally woke about 18 days on life support, I was unable to use my voice, I was unable to walk, talk, use my arms.

I spent the next 4 months in the hospital learning how to do all the above things again. I had my toe amputated. I still have a lot of residual effects. I can no longer run, jump, I have no balance and my speech is sometimes hard for others to understand.

On Monday, September 22, 2025 I was admitted yet again for sepsis (not as bad as the first time) and this is because of my past history. This time the cause is related to kidney stones , bladder, and UTI. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections, Sepsis and Kidney Stones)
So, I have had sepsis and septic shock for a number of diagnoses: Klebsiella bactermia (bacterial infection), Candid sepsis (viral infection), Ecoli bacteria along with blocked urethra (where a kidney stone is blocking most urethra). SIRS.

I am very thankful for my Dad for making me go to the ER . Him and God saved my life 3 times from this horrible thing! I am forever thankful. I think if there was a way to test for sepsis (at home) like influenza, Covid, etc – this would save a lot of lives !