Julia Lee Bloom

Forever 32.
Julia Lee Bloom died on January 26, 2023, less than a week after a routine, outpatient surgery to remove the endometriosis that had caused her ongoing pain due to her diagnosed PCOS. Her autopsy report listed her death as a result of Streptococcus A, due to toxic shock syndrome. (Sepsis and Surgery, Sepsis and Group A Streptococcus, Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome)

She went to work on a Thursday as a hairstylist and greeted her clients with her beautiful smile and warm heart. She cooked supper that evening for her husband and her 2 young boys, ages 4 and 7. She played with her dogs, did laundry, and took a shower in preparation for her Friday surgical procedure. By Monday morning, she was experiencing symptoms of TSS and arrived at the ER with signs of systematic organ failure. She never spoke again, never opened her beautiful hazel eyes and the doctors gave her only a 5% chance of survival. She would loose all 4 limbs.

33 family and friends gathered around her hospital bed on a cold and snowy Thursday morning, as prayers, hymns and an amazing amount of love, and tears, and loud painful cries, filled the small ICU room and hospital hallway as we said goodbye to my beautiful daughter, loving wife, best mamma , sister, a loyal friend to many and one of my best friends.

Although it was a difficult situation, a decision was made not to have her sons come to the hospital that week. It was important to many, that the memories of their sweet mamma be left as they were.

Julia left her smile, her laughter, her hugs and her love with all those who were lucky enough to know or meet her. But 32 years wasn’t nearly enough time. Grief is a journey that does not end. It is like an unpredictable tidal wave some days, rising up and washing over us, and taking our breath away. Our sweet Julia lives on in her favorite country music, the pink and orange sunsets, the color teal, and my grandson’s smiles.

I needed a place to put my grief, to help me, help us move forward.
My son-in-law and I formed a nonprofit organization, to increase awareness about sepsis.
Look on FB and there you can find our nonprofit email address as well.
The Julia Lee Bloom Non-profit Organization for Increasing Sepsis Awareness.
Something positive from such a tragedy and unexpected loss.

We’ll miss and love you forever.
Love,
Your Mamma

Source: Yvonne Park