Angelica Hale Named 2018 EKF Spirit Award Winner

July 25, 2018

Sepsis Alliance Announces Angelica Hale, Sepsis Survivor and America’s Got Talent Finalist, as the 2018 Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award Winner for Using her Voice to Raise Awareness and Drive Urgency Around Recognizing the Signs of Sepsis

 The Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award was created by Dr. Carl Flatley, Sepsis Alliance founder, in memory of his daughter Erin Kay Flatley who unnecessarily passed away from sepsis

San Diego, Calif, July 25, 2018 – Sepsis Alliance, the nation’s leading sepsis organization, today named sepsis survivor and America’s Got Talent finalist Angelica Hale, the winner of the 2018 Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award. Angelica is being recognized for using her voice, as a Sepsis Celebrity Advocate, to help raise awareness of sepsis – the body’s life-threatening response to infection – as well as the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of sepsis quickly. In the United States, sepsis affects 1.7 million people a year and takes a life every two minutes.

At the age of 4, Angelica developed a bacterial infection in her lungs that progressed into double pneumonia, which then led to sepsis and caused organ failure. Fortunately, she got the treatment she needed in time and went on to sing her way to the finals of the 12th season of America’s Got Talent. Now, in partnership with Sepsis Alliance, Angelica is helping others by raising sepsis awareness through It’s About TIME™, a national initiative to create broader awareness of sepsis and the importance of urgency in seeking treatment when signs and symptoms are recognized.

“I’m so honored to receive the Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award and to keep Erin’s spirit alive by helping others learn the signs and symptoms of sepsis, so they can get to the doctor right away,” said Angelica.

Erin Kay Flatley, an aspiring school teacher, died suddenly of sepsis when she was 23 years old. In Erin’s honor, her father and Sepsis Alliance founder Dr. Carl Flatley, DDS, MSD, created the Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award to recognize individuals and organizations that bring Erin’s generous spirit to the fight against sepsis.

“It’s so inspiring to see Angelica, this young girl, dedicate her spark, passion and dynamite voice to helping others, especially spreading sepsis awareness through It’s About TIME,” said Dr. Flatley. “If this type of awareness campaign had been around when my daughter became sick, my Erin might still be alive.”

Dr. Flatley will present Angelica with the Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award at the 7th Annual Sepsis Heroes gala, where she will perform two songs including an original that will embody her experience surviving sepsis.

To learn more about the Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award and past award winners please visit www.sepsis.org/about/erins-campaign-for-kids/. If you are interested in purchasing tickets to the 7th Annual Sepsis Heroes gala, please visit www.SepsisHeroes.org.

About Sepsis Alliance:

Sepsis Alliance is the largest sepsis organization in the U.S., working in all 50 states to save lives and reduce suffering by raising awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency. Sepsis Alliance is a charitable organization run by a dedicated team that shares a strong commitment to battling sepsis. The organization was founded in 2007 by Carl Flatley, DDS, MSD, whose daughter Erin unnecessarily died of sepsis when she was 23 years old. Carl created the organization to raise sepsis awareness among both the general public and healthcare professionals. Sepsis awareness can and does save lives, yet only 58% of adults in the US have ever heard the word. Sepsis Alliance also gives a voice to the millions of people who have been touched by sepsis – to the survivors, and the friends and family members of those who have survived or who have died. For more information, please visit www.sepsis.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter at @SepsisAlliance.