Laurel Simon

My name is Laurel Simon, and at 39 years old, I never imagined that a urinary tract infection and kidney stone would nearly take my life. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections, Sepsis and Kidney Stones)

In March 2026, I developed sepsis from a Proteus hauseri urinary tract infection related to a kidney stone. What started as a painful infection quickly became a life-threatening medical emergency. Before this happened to me, I knew very little about sepsis and had no idea how rapidly it could progress.

I also live with rheumatoid Arthritis and Behçet’s disease, a rare autoimmune condition. (Sepsis and Autoimmune Diseases) Managing chronic illnesses has taught me to pay attention to changes in my health, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.

As the infection spread, my condition rapidly deteriorated. I experienced severe pain unlike anything I had ever felt before. I remember feeling as though my body was slowly shutting down and knowing something was terribly wrong. Along with the pain came confusion and difficulty thinking clearly. Looking back, those moments are some of the scariest memories I have from my sepsis experience.

After I was admitted to the hospital, my blood pressure dropped to dangerously low levels, and I became critically ill. My medical team had to administer epinephrine to stabilize me and support my blood pressure. It is frightening to look back and realize how quickly my condition declined and how close I came to losing my life. I was hospitalized and received IV antibiotics and emergency treatment while doctors worked to control the infection and stabilize my condition. One of the hardest parts was realizing how quickly my family could have lost me and how much my illness affected the people I love.

Although I survived sepsis, my recovery did not end when I left the hospital. In the months that followed, I continued to face physical and emotional challenges. I underwent additional procedures related to my kidney stone, struggled with recurring urinary tract infections, and lived with the fear that another infection could once again become life-threatening. Through my recovery, I learned about post sepsis syndrome and realized that surviving sepsis is only part of the journey. Many survivors continue to experience lasting effects long after leaving the hospital, and recovery is often much longer and more difficult than people realize. As I write this, I am still dealing with the effects of sepsis and the challenges that come with Post Sepsis Syndrome. While I am incredibly grateful to be alive, healing has not been a straight path, and recovery continues every day.

Today, I am passionate about raising awareness because many people do not realize that something as common as a urinary tract infection or kidney stone infection can lead to sepsis. I share my story to help others recognize the warning signs, seek medical attention sooner, and understand that sepsis can happen to anyone.

As a wife, mother, autoimmune disease patient, and sepsis survivor, I am grateful for every day I have been given. Sepsis changed my life forever, but it also gave me a purpose. If sharing my story helps even one person recognize sepsis early, seek treatment sooner, or ask more questions about their recovery, then telling my story is worth it.

Awareness saves lives. Sepsis may be part of my story, but it will not define my future.