Marion Penc

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I, unfortunately, personally faced this dreaded condition when I lost my Mom to SEPSIS in 2001.

She was prescribed a sulfa drug for a urinary tract infection (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) and had a reaction to the drug. Her doctor’s physician assistant (PA) determined this after my Mom presented signs of a “rash.” The PA sent her home telling her that the “symptoms would get worse before they got better.” With that advice in mind, my Mom returned home and continued to present with more symptoms, weakness, disorientation…etc

Despite her trust in the PA’s advice, my Dad insisted on taking my Mom to the ER the following day. That night, she appeared to be improving and she spent the night in the hospital. The next morning, my Dad and I headed to the hospital believing that my Mom was stabilized. We were shocked to learn that my Mom had been transferred to the CCU. When we arrived, my Mom was turning blue, gasping for air, and flailing for help. I’ve never felt so helpless and horrified. We were asked by a nurse permission to intubate my Mom as she could not breathe. I’ll never forget the horror in my Mom’s eyes as she slipped into a coma. Three hours later, an internal medicine specialist arrived, merely staring at my Mom. Apparently “they” were pumping numerous antibioticsinto her system that WERE NOT WORKING. All of her organs began shutting down.

My Mom passed the next morning never regaining consciousness. I’ve had time now to process as to what really happened and how it could possibly have been prevented. The appropriate antibiotics were administered TOO LATE. It was a Sunday and there were no doctors immediately available. I discovered Sepsis Alliance on-line after my Mom had already passed. Prior to her passing, I wasn’t even aware of what SEPSIS was. It is my hope that anyone reading my Mom’s story will immediately address the symptoms of SEPSIS ASAP as TIME is of the essence.

As the website indicates sepsis can develop from ANY MEDICAL CONDITION or even from the HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT ITSELF. Although I will never know for sure how my Mom acquired this deadly condition, I am hoping that others will become more knowledgeable of the signs to look for and not ignore them, thus making my Mom’s story and those of many others not in vain. I thank Sepsis Alliance in their efforts to bring to light this dreaded condition in an attempt to save the lives of those who lack the knowledge and understanding of this devastating condition. Rest In Peace Mom…You are with me always…Love You…Jill

Source: by Jill Penc (Marion's daughter)

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