Kathryn Glowen

In July 2016 I was sharing a glass of wine with my neighbor on a beautiful day in the Northwest. I went home and was very tired so I decided to take a nap and that was the last thing I remember. I was taken to the hospital where they started immediate treatment as they suspected it was sepsis. Thanks to the hospital and staff for realizing what was going on.

I don’t remember much about the hospital but I couldn’t walk, write, or do much of anything and I was in a lot of pain. A few weeks went by and I was sent to rehab to learn to walk and dress myself go to the toilet, etc., and I fought it every day to try to get better. I then developed a UTI and ended up back at the hospital. They once again got me back to rehab where I was determined to get home, I would take any PT that was available to try to get better.

I finally came home and still needed in-home PT and lept pushing myself to get better. April 2018 will be 18 months from the time I checked out of rehab and I am still getting better I can walk with a cane, and a walker if I’m tired, I cook and can dress myself and many other things. I’m not totally back to normal but it was a fight. I had the support of my wonderful husband and sister and many friends. I’m an artist and I can work now in the studio and that is a huge step. I had never heard of sepsis but I know now. They said I had a small infection in my spine which led to the spread of the blood poison. I am totally thankful for everything people did for me, without them I would be dead.