Sepsis Survivor Week

Share your story, help others survive.

As many as 60% of sepsis survivors are left not only with physical challenges but mental and emotional challenges too.

During Sepsis Survivor Week we partner with sepsis survivors to honor their experience by sharing their individual stories of survival and bringing awareness to the unseen mental, emotional, and physical challenges many survivors face every day.

Sepsis Survivor Week is an annual observance that takes place the 2nd week of February. In 2026, it will be observed from February 8th to February 14th.

We prepared these shareable resources to help you honor sepsis survivors and spread awareness of the challenges they face. Will you join us?

Download the toolkit, by clicking here, for three easy ways to start spreading awareness this Sepsis Survivor Week.

Are you a healthcare professional looking for courses around sepsis survivorship? Find courses and discussions in Sepsis Alliance Institute. Click here.

Ready to take action to support sepsis survivorship? The Sepsis Harm and Cost Reduction Act, or Lulu’s Law, is a bipartisan bill with the potential to change the sepsis care landscape. Lulu’s Law is currently pending reintroduction in the 119th Congress.  Tell your lawmakers to prioritize Lulu’s Laws this session by clicking here.

You can also make a gift to support Sepsis Alliance resources by clicking here.

 

 


Get the facts

Make sure you have all the facts about sepsis survivors. To download our 2023 Life After Sepsis fact sheet, click here.

Life After Sepsis Information Guide

To download this easy-to-print guide about what to expect after surviving sepsis, click here.

Life After Sepsis Trifold

To download a printable version of this helpful trifold about life after sepsis, click here.

To download a version for viewing online, click here.

To learn more and find resources for sepsis survivors, click here.

 

Infographics to Share

Spread the word – #SepsisSurvivor

Click here to access downloadable infographics, like the ones below, to share with your social media community. Remember to hashtag #SepsisSurvivor and tag @SepsisAlliance.

       

       

**Please see below for usage regulations

Share Your Story, Help Others Survive

This year’s theme is: Share your story, help others survive.

How does sharing your story or sharing the experience of sepsis survivors help save lives? By raising awareness!

For every hour that treatment is delayed, the risk of mortality increases by 4-9%. Everyone needs to know the signs and symptoms of sepsis to know when they should seek emergency care. Sharing sepsis survivor experiences during Sepsis Survivor Week, and beyond, can help others learn about how infections can lead to sepsis, as well as the signs and symptoms they should watch for.

Additionally, it helps people understand that being discharged from the hospital is not necessarily the end of their sepsis experience. Many survivors experience long-term effects, and we can all better support them through their recovery.

Sepsis Alliance Connect

Sepsis Alliance Connect is a virtual support community designed for the millions of people affected by sepsis. Each year, an estimated 1.4 million people survive sepsis and over 350,000 adults die from sepsis in the United States alone. Sepsis Alliance Connect is a place for these survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and those left behind after a sepsis death to come together and share resources, insight, and encouragement about their sepsis experience and life after sepsis. Learn more and join by clicking here.

Download the Sepsis Survivor Week Poster

Thank you to everyone who provided photos for our Sepsis Survivor Week poster in 2021! Click below to download, print, and share.

 

Download the poster – 11″ x 17″ – click here

 

**Please see below for usage regulations

Life After Sepsis Videos

 

Interested in more videos featuring sepsis survivors? Check out Sepsis Alliance’s YouTube channel by clicking here.

Caregiver Information

When your loved one becomes ill with sepsis, it can be a scary time – one that most people aren’t prepared for. You may not know what sepsis is or how to help your loved one.

Download our guide, When a Loved One Has Sepsis: A Caregiver’s Guide, for more information about navigating this difficult time.

To download the guide, click here

 

 

 

 

Read Survivor Stories

Jennifer Jay

Survivor

In September 2022, my face exploded in open wounds. By November 2022, my body was also covered in open wounds. It took several hours everyday to clean but I was fighting the likelihood of infection. I had a telemed appointment and used antibiotics that seemed to help. All of 2023, I was experiencing flare ups. Uninsured, I would visit the ER it seemed every other month. The flare ups and wounds had evolved. Started to behave differently in Nov. 2023. In the first few days of April,2024, I passed out mid sentence, apparently into a coma, woke up 14 hours ... Read Full Story

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Sharon De Pauw

Survivor, Survivor

It started out with intolerable pain in my shoulder. I was brought to the hospital by ambulance but the ER doctors had me sent up to a general patient floor (instead of ICU), and I went into respiratory arrest. A ‘Code Blue’ was called. My husband was called back to the hospital, to ICU. He was told by the nurse over the phone that I had ‘taken a turn for the worst’, and had stopped breathing. I was taken down to ICU. When my husband returned to the hospital (ICU) and met up with the doctor, he told my husband ... Read Full Story

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Alexa Spivey

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I woke up on November 25, 2023 with a fever of 104° and severe stomach virus symptoms. My family was busy getting ready for my niece’s 1st birthday party, so they weren’t able to give me the full attention I needed. After trying to sleep it off for 4 hours, my symptoms worsened, and I was scared something really bad was going to happen. At this point, my boyfriend stopped helping with the party and drove me to the ER. Once I arrived, they gave me an IV, and ran tons of tests. I originally must’ve had a severe case ... Read Full Story

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Kelly Bishop

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I’ve been living with Crohn’s disease for 20 years. Over that time, I’ve endured countless flares, long hospital stays, and multiple surgeries—including the removal of my large intestine and several small bowel surgeries. For years, I lived with a J-pouch because I wanted nothing to do with an ostomy bag. In 2022, my body began to fail. Scarring and adhesions led to intestinal failure, and I woke up from surgery with an ileostomy bag and a new diagnosis: short bowel syndrome. I had once had a temporary ostomy after my colon was removed, but this time it felt final. When ... Read Full Story

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Bianca A.

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

In August of last year, I began to experience the typical symptoms of a urinary tract infection. As a physician assistant by trade, I felt I should do my due diligence to nip this in the bud. I went to my PCP as soon as I could for a urine sample (which was abnormal), culture, and first-line antibiotic. Two days later, my symptoms had gotten worse, and I felt a bit “off” and feverish. I did not have a true fever, so I called the office. They sent in a broader antibiotic and warned me to go to the ER ... Read Full Story

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Usage Regulations

**This toolkit and the materials presented and linked within it are the sole property of Sepsis Alliance. This toolkit and the materials presented and linked within it are meant to be shared and used for educational and awareness raising purposes only. The toolkit and the materials presented and linked within cannot be reproduced and sold for monetary value. When used for educational and awareness raising purposes, the materials must be used as follows:

  • The materials must be used in their original unaltered state, that includes not adding alternate logos, websites, or additional graphics, etc.
  • The Sepsis Alliance logo and any other logo on the material must be clearly visible
  • The trademark(s) (™)must be clearly visible
  • The copyright must be clearly visible
  • Do not add any logo to the materials, unless you have been given prior approval from Sepsis Alliance
  • The Sepsis: It’s About TIME™ logo cannot be reproduced and used without the approval of Sepsis Alliance

If you are interested in co-branding any of the materials presented or linked in this toolkit, please contact Alex Sadorf at asadorf@sepsis.org for pricing information.