Paul Jack Sorrels

My 85-year-old father was admitted to the hospital through the ER after falling twice in the early morning hours while getting up to go to the bathroom. They told us he was dehydrated and had a touch of pneumonia (Sepsis and Pneumonia). We assumed he would get IV fluids and antibiotics, and would probably only be there a couple of days. This was on Memorial Day, May 25, 2015.

He was put in a regular room and we all went home about 5:00 that evening. He even called my mother from the hospital at 6:30 and they talked for a while. He had started a rattling cough while in the emergency room, but was very alert and coherent. By 9:00 P.M. that evening, they called a rapid response on him, and he was put on a ventilator and moved to ICU.

We went rushing back to the hospital wondering what in the world happened. We found out the next morning that my father was septic and his BP had dropped, and his kidneys were failing. By Wednesday morning we made the decision to take him off life support.

I didn’t know ANYTHING about sepsis or how quickly it can kill. This site is wonderful, because at least I know there are many others who, like me, were left completely shocked by this illness.

Source: by Pamela Mixon (Paul's daughter)